Get Claude Code on your Windows in 30 minutes

An AI assistant that can read your files, edit them, run commands, and finish tasks for you — right from a single window. No coding background needed.

Start the install

What you’ll have when you’re done

Claude Code installed and signed in on your computer.
An AI you can ask to: read CSVs, summarize PDFs, write content, build a one-page website, automate small tasks — all by typing what you want.
A cheatsheet you can come back to next time.

Before you start

A Windows 10 or 11 computer.
A web browser.
A Claude.ai account. Free is fine to test, Pro ($20/mo) is recommended for real use.

Heads up — what’s a terminal? During the install you’ll use PowerShell — a window where you type commands instead of clicking buttons. It’s already on your computer. We’re not installing anything new for the terminal.

Step 1 — Install Node.js

Claude Code is delivered through a tool that comes with Node.js.

Open your browser and go to nodejs.org.
Click the LTS download button (the green one on the left). LTS = the stable version.
Run the installer. Click Next on every screen — defaults are correct.
When it finishes, close any PowerShell window that was open and open a fresh one.

Open a fresh PowerShell: press the Windows key, type Terminal, press Enter.

Test it worked. Paste this into the terminal and press Enter:

node --version
npm --version

You should see two version numbers like v20.11.0 and 10.2.4. If you see “not recognized,” close the terminal and open a new one.

Step 2 — Install Claude Code

In the terminal, paste this and press Enter:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Wait 30–60 seconds. When you get a prompt back, test it:

claude --version

Permission error? Close the terminal. Right-click the terminal icon and choose Run as administrator. Try the install command again.

In the terminal, type:

claude

A first-run screen appears. Choose “Sign in with Claude account.”

A browser window opens. Log in with your Claude.ai account, click Authorize, then go back to the terminal.

You’re in.

Step 4 — Try it

Let’s give Claude something real to do.

On your Desktop, make a new folder called claude-test.
In the terminal, run:
```
cd $HOME\Desktop\claude-test
claude
```
At the prompt, type any of these:

“Make me a simple HTML page that lists my top 3 favorite books with a one-sentence review each. Open it in my browser when done.”

“Write me three social media post ideas about coffee, in a friendly tone.”

“Create a checklist for my morning routine, save it as a text file.”

Watch what happens. Claude will create the file, ask permission, and open or save it for you.

Useful commands

Command	What it does
`claude`	Start Claude in the current folder
`claude --resume`	Continue your last conversation
`/help`	Inside Claude, see all commands
`/clear`	Inside Claude, start a fresh conversation
`cd path\to\folder`	Move the terminal to a folder
`exit` (or Ctrl+D)	Leave Claude

Stuck?

Problem	Fix
`node` is “not recognized” after install	Close the terminal, open a new one, try again.
`npm install` fails with permission error	Run the terminal as Administrator (right-click → Run as admin).
`claude` won’t start	Run `npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code` again.
Browser doesn’t open during sign-in	Copy the URL it printed, paste into your browser manually.
Want to start over	Run `claude`, type `/logout`. Then `claude` again to sign in fresh.

Where to go next

Inside Claude, type /help — explore everything it can do.
Drop a text file called CLAUDE.md into any folder. Whatever you write inside teaches Claude your preferences for that folder. Example:

“I run a Shopify store. Always answer in Arabic. Never edit files in the /backups folder.”
Type /skills inside Claude to see pre-built experts (marketing, copywriting, ads, and more).
Read the official docs: docs.claude.com/claude-code.

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