Claude Download: Desktop App + Claude Code Install (Mac, Windows, Linux)

The official Claude download page is claude.com/download (opens in a new tab). It has the Claude desktop app for macOS (one universal build for Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows (x64 and ARM64), and Linux (beta, Ubuntu and Debian), plus the mobile apps. Claude Code, Anthropic's coding agent, is different: you install it with a one-line terminal command, or you use it inside the desktop app with no terminal at all.

This guide covers every option with the exact commands, shows what a working install looks like, and walks through the errors people hit most. If you're not a developer, skip to the note near the end. You probably want something else.

TL;DR

• Just want Claude? Download the desktop app from claude.com/download (opens in a new tab), or use claude.ai (opens in a new tab) in your browser with nothing to install.
• Claude Code on Mac, Linux, or WSL: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
• Claude Code on Windows PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
• Open a new terminal window, run claude --version to confirm, then cd into a project and type claude. You'll sign in through your browser the first time.
• Claude Code needs a paid plan (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise) or an Anthropic Console account. The free plan doesn't include it.
• Not a developer? You probably want Claude Cowork, not Claude Code.

Which Claude download do you need?

"Claude download" can mean four different things. Pick the one that matches what you want to do, or answer three questions in our Which Claude do I need? picker:

Only download from these official sources:

• The desktop app: claude.com/download (opens in a new tab). On Windows you can also get it from the Microsoft Store; it's distributed as an MSIX package, which is why people search "Claude MSIX download."
• Mobile: the Claude app on the App Store and Google Play.
• Claude Code: Anthropic's install scripts at https://claude.ai/install.sh, https://claude.ai/install.ps1, and https://claude.ai/install.cmd, the official npm package @anthropic-ai/claude-code, Homebrew, WinGet, or Anthropic's signed Linux repositories at downloads.claude.ai.

Ignore third-party "Claude installer" downloads, mirror sites, and random .exe files. They aren't from Anthropic. If you're after Cowork specifically, see Claude Cowork on Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web.

System requirements

From Anthropic's official setup docs (opens in a new tab):

You can also run Claude Code through Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Foundry if your company uses those instead of an Anthropic account.

Option 1: Install in the terminal (recommended)

The native installer is the recommended method. It's one command, doesn't need Node.js, and updates itself in the background.

macOS, Linux, or WSL

Open Terminal (on a Mac, press Cmd + Space and type "Terminal") and run:

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

The same command works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs and on every supported Linux distribution. It detects your system and installs the claude launcher at ~/.local/bin/claude.

Here's what a successful install looks like:

The installer doesn't show a progress bar, so it can look stuck on a slow connection. Give it a minute.

Windows

First, figure out which shell you're in. PowerShell shows PS C:\Users\YourName>. CMD shows C:\Users\YourName> without the PS. You don't need to run either as Administrator.

PowerShell:

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

CMD:

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

Git for Windows is optional. If you install Git for Windows (opens in a new tab), Claude Code uses Git Bash to run commands. Without it, Claude Code uses PowerShell instead, which works fine for most people.

Native Windows or WSL? Anthropic supports both:

In WSL, open your Linux distribution and run the macOS/Linux command above inside it.

Pick a release channel (optional)

By default you get the latest channel: new versions as soon as they ship. If you'd rather run a version that's about a week old and skips releases with major problems, install the stable channel:

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

On PowerShell: & ([scriptblock]::Create((irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1))) stable

Option 2: Install with a package manager

Homebrew (macOS):

brew install --cask claude-code

There are two casks. claude-code follows the stable channel (about a week behind). claude-code@latest gets new releases right away. Homebrew installs don't update on their own; run brew upgrade claude-code to update. If Homebrew says the cask doesn't exist, run brew update first.

WinGet (Windows):

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

Update with winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode.

If you want Claude Code to run the Homebrew or WinGet upgrade for you, set the environment variable CLAUDE_CODE_PACKAGE_MANAGER_AUTO_UPDATE=1.

Linux (apt, dnf, apk): Anthropic publishes signed repositories. On Debian or Ubuntu, the stable channel looks like this:

sudo install -d -m 0755 /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://downloads.claude.ai/keys/claude-code.asc \
  -o /etc/apt/keyrings/claude-code.asc
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/claude-code.asc] https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-code/apt/stable stable main" \
  | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/claude-code.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install claude-code

Before trusting the key, check its fingerprint with gpg --show-keys /etc/apt/keyrings/claude-code.asc. It should be 31DDDE24DDFAB679F42D7BD2BAA929FF1A7ECACE. The dnf (Fedora, RHEL) and apk (Alpine) versions are in the setup docs (opens in a new tab). Package-manager installs update through your normal system upgrades, for example sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade claude-code.

If you just want the quickest path on Linux, Option 1 is still one command with no repository setup.

Option 3: Install with npm

If Node.js is already part of your workflow:

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

The npm package needs Node.js 22 or later. On an older Node you'll see an EBADENGINE warning, but the install still works because the package installs the same native binary, which doesn't use Node at runtime.

• Never use sudo npm install -g. It causes permission problems. If you get permission errors, switch to Option 1.
• To update, run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest. Avoid npm update -g, which can leave you on an older version.

Start Claude Code

With any install method, open a terminal in the project you want to work on and start it:

cd your-project
claude

The first time, Claude Code opens your browser so you can sign in with your Claude or Console account. After that, give it tasks in plain language: "explain how this project is organized," "add tests for this module," or "find where we handle logins."

Use Claude Code without the terminal

Not everyone wants the command line. Claude Code also comes as:

• The desktop app. The Claude desktop app runs Claude Code in a window: visual diff review, several sessions side by side, and the same agent you'd get in the terminal. It's the easiest option if you don't want the command line. Get it from claude.com/download (opens in a new tab).
• VS Code or Cursor extension. Search "Claude Code" in the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X or Ctrl+Shift+X), install it, then run "Claude Code: Open in New Tab" from the Command Palette. Note that the extension bundles its own private copy of Claude Code; it doesn't add claude to your terminal.
• JetBrains plugin. For IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, and the rest. Install from the JetBrains Marketplace and restart your IDE.
• The web. Nothing to install. Use claude.ai/code (opens in a new tab) in your browser, which is useful for long-running tasks and repositories you don't have on your machine.

Claude Code vs. the desktop app, the web app, and the Console

A lot of "Claude download" searches mix up things that share the name:

The CLI and the desktop app aren't rival products. The desktop app is the point-and-click way to run Claude Code, and the CLI is the terminal way.

Verify your install

Open a new terminal window and run:

claude --version

A working install prints a version number, like 2.1.211 (Claude Code). For a fuller check, run:

claude doctor

claude doctor checks your install, settings files, and auto-update status without starting a session, and suggests fixes for anything wrong. Run it first whenever something feels off.

Keep Claude Code updated

Native installs update themselves in the background, and the new version takes effect the next time you start Claude Code. To update right now:

claude update

You'll see Successfully updated from <old version> to version <new version>, or a message that you're already up to date. Package-manager installs update manually:

• Homebrew: brew upgrade claude-code (or claude-code@latest)
• WinGet: winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode
• npm: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest
• apt: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade claude-code

Uninstall Claude Code

Match the method you installed with:

• Native, macOS/Linux/WSL: rm -f ~/.local/bin/claude and rm -rf ~/.local/share/claude
• Native, Windows PowerShell: Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin\claude.exe" -Force and Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\share\claude" -Recurse -Force
• Homebrew: brew uninstall --cask claude-code
• WinGet: winget uninstall Anthropic.ClaudeCode
• npm: npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
• apt: sudo apt remove claude-code, then delete /etc/apt/sources.list.d/claude-code.list and /etc/apt/keyrings/claude-code.asc

To also delete your settings and history, remove the ~/.claude folder and the ~/.claude.json file. Uninstall the VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, and desktop app first, or they'll recreate the folder. This deletes your saved settings, MCP servers, and session history, so only do it if you want a clean slate.

Troubleshooting: what the common errors look like

Match what you see to the fix. Anthropic keeps a full troubleshooting table (opens in a new tab) for rarer errors, and our Claude Code error lookup lets you paste any error to see what it means and where the official fix is.

"command not found: claude" after installing

The install worked, but your terminal doesn't know where to find it. First, try opening a new terminal window. If that doesn't fix it, add the install folder to your PATH.

macOS (Zsh, the default):

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Linux (Bash):

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Windows PowerShell:

$currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', 'User')
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', "$currentPath;$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin", 'User')

Then restart your terminal and run claude --version again. On Windows CMD the error reads 'claude' is not recognized as an internal or external command; the fix is the same folder, %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin, added to your User PATH in System Settings → Environment Variables.

The install command fails with HTML or a 403

The install URL returned a web page instead of the script. If the page says "App unavailable in region," Claude Code isn't available in your country. Otherwise it's usually a network, proxy, or temporary routing problem. Try the package-manager route instead: brew install --cask claude-code on a Mac or winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode on Windows. A plain curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 403 is often the same issue, or a corporate firewall.

Wrong command for your Windows shell

irm ... | iex only works in PowerShell. If you see The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator, it's the reverse: you pasted the CMD command into PowerShell. Errors like 'bash' is not recognized or A parameter cannot be found that matches parameter name 'fsSL' mean you pasted the Mac/Linux command into Windows. Use the command that matches your prompt.

Other errors you might see

When in doubt, run claude doctor.

Are you sure you want Claude Code?

Worth a gut check before you install anything. Claude Code is a tool for developers: its job is reading and editing codebases, running commands, and managing git. If you don't write software, it's almost certainly not what you're looking for.

If you're a business owner or knowledge worker who wants AI help with documents, research, file organization, and everyday work, you want Claude Cowork. It's the same kind of agent, inside the desktop app, with no terminal. We break down the difference in Claude Code vs. Claude Cowork and cover what Cowork does in what Claude Cowork can do. If you're weighing Claude Code against an editor, see Claude Code vs. Cursor.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the official Claude download page?

It's claude.com/download (opens in a new tab). That page has the Claude desktop app for macOS, Windows (x64 and ARM64), and Linux (beta), plus the mobile apps. Claude Code for the terminal installs with a command instead.

How do I download Claude Code?

The recommended method is the native installer. On macOS, Linux, or WSL run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash; on Windows PowerShell run irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex. You can also use Homebrew (brew install --cask claude-code), WinGet (winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode), apt/dnf/apk, or npm (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code), or skip installing and use the desktop app or claude.ai/code.

How do I install Claude Code on Mac?

Open Terminal and run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash. It works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Or use Homebrew: brew install --cask claude-code. Open a new Terminal window, run claude --version to confirm, then type claude in a project folder to start.

How do I install Claude Code on Windows?

In PowerShell, run irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex. In CMD, run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd. Or use WinGet: winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode. You don't need Administrator rights. Git for Windows is optional; without it Claude Code uses PowerShell.

How do I install Claude Code on Linux?

Run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash. It works on Ubuntu, Debian, Alpine, and other supported distributions. You can also install from Anthropic's signed apt, dnf, or apk repositories if you prefer your package manager.

Can I install Claude Code with npm?

Yes. Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code. It needs Node.js 22 or newer, and you should never use sudo. Update with npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest. The native installer is still recommended because it updates itself.

Do I need to pay for Claude Code?

Yes. Claude Code requires a Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan, or an Anthropic Console account. The free claude.ai plan doesn't include it. Companies can also run it through Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Foundry.

Why does it say "command not found: claude" after I installed it?

Your terminal doesn't know where the new program is yet. Open a new terminal window first. If that doesn't work, add ~/.local/bin to your PATH (on Windows, %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin), restart the terminal, and run claude --version.

What's the difference between Claude Code and the Claude desktop app?

Claude Code is the coding agent: it edits code, runs commands, and manages git. The Claude desktop app is Anthropic's main application, and it runs Claude Code inside a window, so you can use the coding agent without a terminal. The desktop app is the point-and-click way to run Claude Code; the CLI is the terminal way.

Is there a Claude Console download?

No. The Anthropic Console at console.anthropic.com is a website for API keys, billing, and usage. There's nothing to install. A Console account is one way to sign in to Claude Code.

How do I update or uninstall Claude Code?

Native installs update themselves; run claude update to update right away. Homebrew, WinGet, npm, and Linux package installs update manually with their own upgrade commands. To uninstall a native install on Mac or Linux, run rm -f ~/.local/bin/claude and rm -rf ~/.local/share/claude, or use your package manager's uninstall command.

Do I need Claude Code or Claude Cowork?

Claude Code is for developers: it edits codebases, runs commands, and manages git. Claude Cowork is for everyone else: it handles documents, research, and business workflows in the desktop app with no terminal. If you don't write software, you almost certainly want Claude Cowork.

Next step

If you're a developer, install with the command above, run claude in a project, and try a small task like "write tests for this module and fix any failures." When you're ready to go deeper, our Claude Code training path lays out what to learn first.

If you landed here looking for AI help with everyday work, start with the free Claude Cowork course: practical lessons and real workflows built for non-developers. New to the desktop app? Begin with getting started with Cowork, or grab a Claude guest pass to try it first.