Quickstart ↗

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.

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, Teams, 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, use one of the following methods:

macOS, Linux, WSL:

    curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
    ```

**Windows PowerShell:**

```powershell
    irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
    ```

**Windows CMD:**

```batch
    curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
    ```

**Windows requires [Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win).** Install it first if you don't have it.

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  Native installations automatically update in the background to keep you on the latest version.
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  <span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Homebrew"></span>
```bash
    brew install --cask claude-code
    ```

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  Homebrew installations do not auto-update. Run `brew upgrade claude-code` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.
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  <span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="WinGet"></span>
```powershell
    winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
    ```

<span class="callout-start" data-callout-type="info"></span>
  WinGet installations do not auto-update. Run `winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.
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## Step 2: Log in to your account

Claude Code requires an account to use. When you start an interactive session with the `claude` command, you'll need to log in:

```bash
claude
# You'll be prompted to log in on first use

/login
# Follow the prompts to log in with your account

You can log in using any of these account types:

• Claude Pro, Max, Teams, or Enterprise (recommended)
• Claude Console (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 Vertex AI, or Microsoft Foundry (enterprise cloud providers)

Once logged in, your credentials are stored and you won’t need to log in again. To switch accounts later, use the /login command.

Step 3: Start your first session#

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

cd /path/to/your/project
claude

You’ll see the Claude Code welcome screen with your session information, recent conversations, and latest updates. Type /help for available commands or /resume to continue a previous conversation.

After logging in (Step 2), your credentials are stored on your system. Learn more in Credential Management.

Step 4: Ask your first question#

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

what does this project do?

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

what technologies does this project use?

where is the main entry point?

explain the folder structure

You can also ask Claude about its own capabilities:

what can Claude Code do?

how do I create custom skills in Claude Code?

can Claude Code work with Docker?

Claude Code reads your project files as needed. You don’t have to manually add context.

Step 5: Make your first code change#

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

add a hello world function to the main file

Claude Code will:

1. Find the appropriate file
2. Show you the proposed changes
3. Ask for your approval
4. Make the edit

Claude Code always asks for permission before modifying files. You can approve individual changes or enable “Accept all” mode for a session.

Step 6: Use Git with Claude Code#

Claude Code makes Git operations conversational:

what files have I changed?

commit my changes with a descriptive message

You can also prompt for more complex Git operations:

create a new branch called feature/quickstart

show me the last 5 commits

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:

add input validation to the user registration form

Or fix existing issues:

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

refactor the authentication module to use async/await instead of callbacks

Write tests

write unit tests for the calculator functions

Update documentation

update the README with installation instructions

Code review

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:

See the CLI reference for a complete list of commands.

Pro tips for beginners#

For more, see best practices and common workflows.

    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
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Let Claude explore first">
Before making changes, let Claude understand your code:

```text
    analyze the database schema
    ```

```text
    build a dashboard showing products that are most frequently returned by our UK customers
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Save time with shortcuts">
* Press `?` to see all available keyboard shortcuts
* Use Tab for command completion
* Press ↑ for command history
* Type `/` to see all commands and skills
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## What's next?

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

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  <span class="card-start" data-card-title="How Claude Code works" data-card-icon="microchip" data-card-href="/en/how-claude-code-works"></span>
Understand the agentic loop, built-in tools, and how Claude Code interacts with your project
  <span class="card-end"></span>

  <span class="card-start" data-card-title="Best practices" data-card-icon="star" data-card-href="/en/best-practices"></span>
Get better results with effective prompting and project setup
  <span class="card-end"></span>

  <span class="card-start" data-card-title="Common workflows" data-card-icon="graduation-cap" data-card-href="/en/common-workflows"></span>
Step-by-step guides for common tasks
  <span class="card-end"></span>

  <span class="card-start" data-card-title="Extend Claude Code" data-card-icon="puzzle-piece" data-card-href="/en/features-overview"></span>
Customize with CLAUDE.md, skills, hooks, MCP, and more
  <span class="card-end"></span>
<span class="card-group-end"></span>

## Getting help

* **In Claude Code**: Type `/help` or ask "how do I..."
* **Documentation**: You're here! Browse other guides
* **Community**: Join our [Discord](https://www.anthropic.com/discord) for tips and support