Start here
Install Claude Code
Now install Claude Code itself. There are two ways — we strongly recommend the first, the Desktop app, because you drive everything from a simple chat window and never have to use the terminal yourself.
The easy way: the Desktop app (recommended)
- Go to
claude.com/download. - Download the version for your computer — Mac or Windows — and install it like any app.
- Open it and sign in with your Claude account (the one you put on Pro). Approve the browser pop-up.
The Claude Code app opens and you’re signed in. That’s everything you need — you’ll drive it all from the chat window in the next modules.
The alternative: the terminal (only if you prefer it)
If you’d rather use the classic terminal, here are the official one-line installers. Otherwise, skip this.
Mac — open the Terminal app and paste:
Mac / Linux — Terminal
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows — open PowerShell and paste:
Windows — PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Check it worked, then start it any time:
Type or paste this
claude --version claude
If claude --version says “command not found,” close the terminal window and open a fresh one. Still stuck? Just use the Desktop app — it avoids all of this.