How to run Claude Code on Windows

Can you run Claude Code on Windows?

Yes. Claude Code runs natively on Windows, inside WSL and as a desktop app. Anthropic’s system requirements list Windows 10 version 1809 or later (or Windows Server 2019 or later), 4 GB of RAM, an x64 or ARM64 processor and an internet connection. Windows 11 is newer than 1809, so it qualifies. 32-bit Windows is not supported.

You also need an account that includes Claude Code: a Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan, or a Console account. The free Claude plan does not include it, according to the same setup page. Claude Code can also run through Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud’s Agent Platform or Microsoft Foundry.

How do you install Claude Code on Windows?

Use the native installer, which Anthropic marks as recommended. Press Win + X and open Windows PowerShell (or Terminal). A PowerShell prompt starts with PS. Then run this, as in Anthropic’s terminal guide for Windows:

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

The command shows no progress while it downloads, so leave the window open until it finishes. You do not need to run it as Administrator, per the setup page. If your prompt has no PS, you are in CMD, and the matching command is curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd.

Prefer a package manager? winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode also works. The difference is updates: native installs update themselves in the background, while WinGet installs do not, so run winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode now and then. Both are on Anthropic’s setup page.

Open a new terminal window and run claude --version. A working install prints a version number. Then go to your project folder, run claude and follow the browser prompts to sign in. If something looks wrong, claude doctor prints a read-only check of your installation and settings (verify your installation).

Does Claude Code require Git Bash on Windows?

No, not any more. Many guides still say it does, because earlier versions needed Git for Windows. Anthropic’s release digest for April 27 to May 1, 2026 says Git for Windows is no longer required: when Bash is absent, Claude Code uses PowerShell as its shell tool.

The setup page now calls Git for Windows optional. It provides Git Bash, which the Bash tool and the Monitor tool need, and Anthropic recommends it on native Windows if you want the Bash tool. If you work in PowerShell, you can skip it. When both are present, Claude Code uses Git Bash for Bash and keeps the PowerShell tool available too.

Know the limits. Anthropic labels the PowerShell tool a preview and lists two limits that matter on Windows: PowerShell profiles are not loaded, and sandboxing is not supported (tools reference).

If Claude Code says “Claude Code on Windows requires either Git for Windows (for bash) or PowerShell”, it found neither. Make sure powershell.exe is on your PATH, or install PowerShell 7 or Git for Windows. If Git is installed but not found, set CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH to your bash.exe in settings.json. The troubleshooting guide has the exact JSON.

Should you use native Windows or WSL?

Start native unless you have a reason not to. Anthropic’s Windows table lists three options. Native Windows needs nothing extra and has no sandbox. WSL 2 supports the sandbox and suits Linux toolchains. WSL 1 has no sandbox and is for machines where WSL 2 is not available.

For WSL, open your distribution and run the Linux installer there, curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash, then start claude from the WSL terminal, not from PowerShell or CMD. Keep your project on the Linux filesystem, under /home/, not under /mnt/c/. Anthropic says working across file systems can slow search and return fewer matches.

If a WSL install prints cannot execute binary file: Exec format error, you are on WSL 1. Anthropic’s fix is to convert the distribution with wsl --set-version <DistroName> 2 (details).

How does Claude Code on Windows compare with Linux and macOS?

The supported systems are macOS 13 or later, Windows 10 1809 or later, Ubuntu 20.04 or later, Debian 10 or later and Alpine Linux 3.19 or later. The difference that matters is the sandbox. It runs on macOS, Linux and WSL 2, and on native Windows Claude Code runs commands unsandboxed, according to the sandboxing docs. If you want the sandbox on a Windows machine, use WSL 2.

There is also a no-terminal route. Anthropic offers the desktop app for Windows x64 and ARM64, and its Code tab includes Claude Code, so you do not install the CLI. It needs a paid plan. With WSL 2, the app can also run a session inside your distribution.

One more difference shows up in shared repositories. If your team keeps its instructions in AGENTS.md, use a CLAUDE.md that imports it with @AGENTS.md rather than a symlink. Anthropic’s memory docs warn that creating a symlink on Windows needs Administrator rights or Developer Mode, and that Git checks a committed symlink out as plain text unless core.symlinks is enabled. Our guide to AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md and GEMINI.md has the full setup.

Which terminal should you use on Windows?

Windows Terminal works without setup. Anthropic’s terminal page lists it among the terminals where Shift+Enter inserts a newline. In the VS Code or Cursor terminal, run /terminal-setup once. In any terminal, Ctrl+J, or \ before Enter, also works.

If each press of Backspace deletes a whole word, set the environment variable CLAUDE_CODE_BS_AS_CTRL_BACKSPACE to 0, as the same page explains.

Claude Code sends a desktop notification by default only in Ghostty, Kitty and iTerm2, so Windows Terminal will not get one. Set preferredNotifChannel to terminal_bell, or add a Notification hook, when you want a nudge while a task runs. Anthropic’s hooks guide has desktop notification commands for Windows, and our guide to running several Claude Code sessions covers keeping track of more than one.

How do you fix common Windows errors?

These come from Anthropic’s installation troubleshooting guide. Each error is followed by its fix.

claude is not recognized. The install folder is not on your PATH. In PowerShell, run $currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', 'User') and then [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', "$currentPath;$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin", 'User'). Open a new window and try again.

irm is not recognized, or The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator. You pasted a command into the wrong shell. The irm command belongs in PowerShell and the && command in CMD.

A parameter cannot be found that matches parameter name ‘fsSL’. You ran the macOS and Linux installer in PowerShell, where curl is an alias for Invoke-WebRequest. Use the irm command above.

Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel. This usually means an older Windows 10. Run [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12 first, then the install command again.

Claude Code does not support 32-bit Windows. You opened the Windows PowerShell (x86) entry, which runs as a 32-bit process even on a 64-bit PC. Open the entry without “(x86)”.

Running claude opens the desktop app. An older Claude Desktop may register a Claude.exe that takes priority on PATH. Update Claude Desktop.

Running scripts is disabled on this system, after installing with npm. PowerShell’s execution policy blocks npm’s .ps1 launchers. The PowerShell installer avoids the problem.

Run Claude Code with other agents on Windows

SwarmPane runs on Windows 10 and 11 (x64) as well as Mac and Linux, with an installer on Downloads. It runs Claude Code, Codex and other coding CLIs in real terminals, so you install and sign in to each CLI as above, and SwarmPane’s Agents settings show what it found. Agent Grid puts up to 16 agents side by side with a status for each pane, and Layouts can open a set of agents in one click, each in its own worktree if you want.

The Windows installer updates itself. It is not code-signed yet, so Windows asks you to choose More info, then Run anyway. SwarmPane’s Git features need Git for Windows, and SwarmPane Voice is macOS only for now. SwarmPane runs the CLIs and accounts you already have. Start with a 7-day trial for $1 and cancel before it ends if it is not for you.