Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://code.claude.com/docs/llms.txt Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Quickstart

Welcome to Claude Code!

This quickstart guide will have you using AI-powered coding assistance in a few minutes. By the end, you'll understand how to use Claude Code for common development tasks.

Before you begin

Make sure you have:

A terminal or command prompt open
If you've never used the terminal before, check out the terminal guide
A code project to work with
A Claude subscription (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise), Claude Console account, or access through a supported cloud provider

This guide covers the terminal CLI. Claude Code is also available on the web, as a desktop app, in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, in Slack, and in CI/CD with GitHub Actions and GitLab. See all interfaces.

Step 1: Install Claude Code

To install Claude Code, open a terminal and run the command for your system. If you haven't used a terminal before, the terminal guide shows how to open one and paste the command.

macOS, Linux, WSL:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
```

**Windows PowerShell:**

```powershell theme={null}
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```

**Windows CMD:**

```batch theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
```

When the installer finishes, open a new terminal window and run `claude --version`. A working installation prints a version number. If your shell says `claude` isn't found or isn't recognized, the install directory isn't on your PATH yet: see [Fix your PATH](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install#command-not-found-claude-after-installation).

If you see `The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator`, you're in PowerShell, not CMD. If you see `'irm' is not recognized as an internal or external command`, you're in CMD, not PowerShell. Your prompt shows `PS C:\` when you're in PowerShell and `C:\` without the `PS` when you're in CMD.

If the install command fails with `syntax error near unexpected token '<'`, a `403`, or another curl error, see [Troubleshoot installation](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install#find-your-error) to match the error to a fix and for alternative install methods.

[Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win) is recommended on native Windows so Claude Code can use the Bash tool. If Git for Windows is not installed, Claude Code uses PowerShell as the shell tool instead. WSL setups do not need Git for Windows.

<Info>
  Native installations automatically update in the background to keep you on the latest version.
</Info>

bash theme={null} brew install --cask claude-code

Homebrew offers two casks. `claude-code` tracks the stable release channel, which is typically about a week behind and skips releases with major regressions. `claude-code@latest` tracks the latest channel and receives new versions as soon as they ship.

<Info>
  Homebrew installations do not auto-update. Run `brew upgrade claude-code` or `brew upgrade claude-code@latest`, depending on which cask you installed, to get the latest features and security fixes.
</Info>

powershell theme={null} winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

<Info>
  WinGet installations do not auto-update. Run `winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.
</Info>

You can also install with apt, dnf, or apk on Debian, Fedora, RHEL, and Alpine.

To confirm the installation worked, run:

```bash theme={null} claude --version

The command prints a version number followed by `(Claude Code)`.

## Step 2: Log in to your account

Claude Code requires an account to use. Start an interactive session with the `claude` command and you'll be prompted to log in on first use:

```bash theme={null}
claude

For Claude subscription or Console accounts, follow the prompts to complete authentication in your browser. If you've set the ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable, Claude Code skips the login prompt and asks you to approve the key instead. To switch accounts later or re-authenticate, type /login inside the running session:

```text wrap theme={null} /login

You can log in using any of these account types:

* [Claude Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=quickstart_login) (recommended)
* [Claude Console](https://platform.claude.com/) (API access with pre-paid credits). On first login, a "Claude Code" workspace is automatically created in the Console for centralized cost tracking.
* [Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud's Agent Platform, or Microsoft Foundry](/docs/en/third-party-integrations) (enterprise cloud providers)
* A self-hosted [Claude apps gateway](/docs/en/claude-apps-gateway), if your organization runs one: your admin pre-configures the gateway URL, and `/login` opens directly on the **Cloud gateway** screen for you to sign in with corporate SSO

Once logged in, your credentials are stored and you won't need to log in again. Learn more in [Credential Management](/docs/en/authentication#credential-management).

## Step 3: Start your first session

Open your terminal in any project directory and start Claude Code:

```bash theme={null}
cd /path/to/your/project
claude

Replace /path/to/your/project with the path to the project you want to work on.

You'll see the Claude Code prompt with the version, current model, and working directory shown above it. Type /help for available commands or /resume to continue a previous conversation.

Step 4: Ask your first question

Let's start with understanding your codebase. Try one of these commands:

```text wrap theme={null} what does this project do?

Claude will analyze your files and provide a summary. You can also ask more specific questions:

```text wrap theme={null}
what technologies does this project use?

```text wrap theme={null} where is the main entry point?

```text wrap theme={null}
explain the folder structure

You can also ask Claude about its own capabilities:

```text wrap theme={null} what can Claude Code do?

```text wrap theme={null}
how do I create custom skills in Claude Code?

```text wrap theme={null} can Claude Code work with Docker?

<Note>
  Claude Code reads your project files as needed. You don't have to manually add context.
</Note>

## Step 5: Make your first code change

Now let's make Claude Code do some actual coding. Try a simple task:

```text wrap theme={null}
add a hello world function to the main file

Claude Code finds the appropriate file and shows you the change. If it asks before making the change, select Yes to approve.

With Claude Code v2.1.283 or later, auto mode is the built-in starting permission mode for interactive terminal sessions: a classifier reviews actions instead of you, and Claude edits most files and runs most commands without asking you. On earlier versions, auto mode is the built-in starting permission mode only on Pro, Max, and Team plans. For the session you start right after installing, see First session after an install or upgrade.

Your settings or your organization can set a different starting permission mode. Which permission mode a session starts in lists what does. Press Shift+Tab at any time to switch the permission mode of the session you're in.

Step 6: Use Git with Claude Code

Claude Code makes Git operations conversational:

```text wrap theme={null} what files have I changed?

```text wrap theme={null}
commit my changes with a descriptive message

You can also prompt for more complex Git operations:

```text wrap theme={null} create a new branch called feature/quickstart

```text wrap theme={null}
show me the last 5 commits

```text wrap theme={null} help me resolve merge conflicts

## Step 7: Fix a bug or add a feature

Claude is proficient at debugging and feature implementation.

Describe what you want in natural language:

```text wrap theme={null}
add input validation to the user registration form

Or fix existing issues:

```text wrap theme={null} there's a bug where users can submit empty forms - fix it

Claude Code will:

* Locate the relevant code
* Understand the context
* Implement a solution
* Run tests if available

## Step 8: Test out other common workflows

There are a number of ways to work with Claude:

**Refactor code**

```text wrap theme={null}
refactor the authentication module to use async/await instead of callbacks

Write tests

```text wrap theme={null} write unit tests for the calculator functions

**Update documentation**

```text wrap theme={null}
update the README with installation instructions

Code review

text wrap theme={null} review my changes and suggest improvements

Talk to Claude like you would a helpful colleague. Describe what you want to achieve, and it will help you get there.

Essential commands

Here are the most important commands for daily use. Shell commands run from your terminal to start or resume Claude Code. Session commands run inside Claude Code after it starts.

Shell commands

Command	What it does	Example
`claude`	Start interactive mode	`claude`
`claude "task"`	Start interactive mode with an initial prompt	`claude "fix the build error"`
`claude -p "query"`	Run one-off query, then exit	`claude -p "explain this function"`
`claude -c`	Continue most recent conversation in current directory	`claude -c`
`claude -r`	Resume a previous conversation	`claude -r`

Session commands

Command	What it does	Example
`/clear`	Clear conversation history	`/clear`
`/help`	Show available commands	`/help`
`/exit` or Ctrl+D twice	Exit Claude Code	`/exit`

See the CLI reference for the complete list of shell commands and the commands reference for the complete list of session commands.

Pro tips for beginners

For more, see best practices and common workflows.

Instead of: "fix the bug"

Try: "fix the login bug where users see a blank screen after entering wrong credentials"

Break complex tasks into steps:

```text wrap theme={null}
1. create a new database table for user profiles
2. create an API endpoint to get and update user profiles
3. build a webpage that allows users to see and edit their information
```

Before making changes, let Claude understand your code:

```text wrap theme={null}
analyze the database schema
```

```text wrap theme={null}
build a dashboard showing products that are most frequently returned by our UK customers
```

* Type / to see the commands and skills available to you * Use Tab for command completion * Press ↑ for command history * Press Shift+Tab to cycle permission modes

What's next?

Now that you've learned the basics, explore more advanced features:

Understand the agentic loop, built-in tools, and how Claude Code interacts with your project

Get better results with effective prompting and project setup

Step-by-step guides for common tasks

Customize with CLAUDE.md, skills, hooks, MCP, and more

Getting help

In Claude Code: Type /help or ask a "how do I" question
Documentation: You're here! Browse other guides
Courses: Take Claude Code 101 and other free self-paced courses on Claude Academy
Community: Join our Discord for tips and support