How to Install Claude Code on Windows and Linux in 2025

By awesometawkir on November 21, 2025

This guide shows you how to install Claude Code on your computer."

Are you ready to supercharge your coding workflow with AI? Installing Claude Code on Windows and Linux is easier than you might think. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the Claude Code installation process.

Claude Code is Anthropic's powerful AI coding assistant that works directly in your terminal. Unlike traditional IDEs, it collaborates with you in real-time, helping you write, debug, and understand code faster. The best part? It supports multiple programming languages and adapts to your workflow seamlessly.

In this tutorial, I'll show you exactly how to install Claude Code on both Windows (using WSL2) and native Linux systems. You'll also learn about system requirements, troubleshooting common issues, and getting your first AI-powered coding session started.

What you'll learn:

System requirements for Windows and Linux
Step-by-step Claude Code installation on Windows with WSL2
Native installation process for Linux distributions
Authentication and initial setup
Common troubleshooting tips

Let's dive in!

System Requirements

Optimized Version:

What You Need Before Installing Claude Code

Before you start the Claude Code installation, make sure your system meets these requirements. Trust me, checking these upfront saves a lot of headaches later!

For Windows Users:

Windows 10 (Build 19041+) or Windows 11
At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended for smooth performance)
2-4GB free disk space for WSL2 and Claude Code
Virtualization enabled in BIOS (check Task Manager > Performance > CPU)
Stable internet connection for downloads and AI processing

For Linux Users:

Ubuntu 20.04+ or Debian 10+
Node.js 18 or later (we'll install this together)
4GB+ RAM
Internet connection for authentication

For windows: You don't need to do anything paricularly.

For Ubuntu: :

Once you're logged in, update Ubuntu's package list to ensure you get the latest software versions:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This might take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Install Node.js and npm

Claude Code requires Node.js 18 or later. Here's the fastest way to install it:

For Windows:

Download Node.js and install it.

For Linux:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Verify the installation: in poweshell/bash

node --version

# Should show v20.x.x or higher

npm --version

# Should show npm version

Do the same for Linux.

Configure npm for Global Packages

This critical step prevents permission errors when installing Claude Code

in Linux: use these commands

mkdir -p ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Install Claude Code

Now for the main event! Install Claude Code globally:

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

This is same for Linux.

Verify it's working

claude --version

Setting Up Claude Code Authentication

Before you can start using Claude Code, you need to authenticate it with your Anthropic account.

Step 1: Navigate to Your Project

Claude Code works within the context of a specific directory. Navigate to any project folder:

# For Linux projects cd ~/my-project # For Windows users accessing Windows files from WSL cd /mnt/c/Users/YourName/Documents/my-project

Step 2: Launch Claude Code

Simply type:

bash

in powsershell / bash type claude

Step 3: Complete Authentication

On first launch, Claude Code will guide you through authentication:

Select "Connect to Claude Console"
A browser window opens automatically
Log in with your Anthropic account
Copy the authentication code
Paste it back into the terminal

Billing Setup: Claude Code requires active billing on your Anthropic account. You have two options:

Pay-as-you-go: Add credits to your API account
Claude Pro/Max subscription: $20 to $100month with higher usage limits (better value for regular use)

From my experience, if you're planning to use Claude Code frequently, the Claude Pro subscription saves money compared to pay-per-use.

It will automatically open in browser authentication

After authentication you will get a code. paste here

And you will see this

Now that Claude Code is installed, let's talk about what makes it so powerful. Once you start chatting with Claude in your terminal, you'll discover it's not just a code helper—it's like having an expert developer sitting right next to you.

Claude Code's Core Capabilities

Package Management: Need to install npm packages, Python libraries, or system dependencies? Just ask Claude. It can run npm install, pip install, or apt install commands on your behalf. No more searching for the right package name or installation flags—Claude handles it all.

Environment Setup: Setting up a new project environment can be tedious. Claude Code can configure your virtual environments, initialize Git repositories, create project structures, and set up configuration files. Tell it what you need, and watch it organize everything.

Code Generation and Editing: This is where Claude Code truly shines. It can:

Write complete functions or entire files from scratch
Refactor existing code for better performance
Add comprehensive documentation and comments
Convert code between different languages or frameworks
Debug issues by analyzing error messages

File Operations: Claude Code has full CLI access, meaning it can:

Create, read, update, and delete files
Search through your codebase
Modify multiple files simultaneously
Organize project structures

System Commands: Anything you can do in a command-line interface, Claude can do too:

Run build scripts and tests
Check system information
Manage processes
Execute complex command chains

Real-World Example: Starting a New Project

Let me show you how this works in practice. Instead of manually setting up a Django project, you could simply type:

claude
```

Then in the chat you can use this prompt:
```
"Create a new Django project called 'myblog' with a virtual environment, 
install Django and required dependencies, set up a PostgreSQL database 
configuration, and create a basic blog app with models for posts and categories."

Claude Code will:

Create a virtual environment
Install Django and dependencies
Initialize the Django project
Configure database settings
Create the blog app
Generate model files with proper relationships
Create initial migrations

All in seconds, with clean, production-ready code.

The Conversational Advantage

What sets Claude Code apart from traditional IDEs is the conversational interface. You can ask questions like:

"What does this function do and can you optimize it?"
"Find all files using the old API and update them to the new version"
"Why is this test failing and how do I fix it?"
"Review my code and suggest security improvements"

Claude understands context, remembers your previous requests in the session, and can work across your entire project structure. It's like pair programming with an AI that has deep knowledge of virtually every programming language and framework.

Starting Your First Claude Code Session

Ready to experience this yourself? Navigate to any project directory and run:

cd ~/your-project claude

Try these starter commands:

/help - See all available commands
/ask "Analyze this project structure" - Get an overview
/generate "Create a README.md file" - Generate documentation
/doctor - Check system health and configuration

From my experience working with Claude Code on multiple projects, the time savings are incredible. Tasks that used to take hours—like setting up boilerplate code, writing tests, or refactoring legacy code—now take minutes.

Pro Tip: Use Claude Code for learning too. Ask it to explain unfamiliar code patterns or new frameworks. It's like having a mentor available 24/7.