What this does. You'll install Claude Code on Windows in two parts: the VS Code extension (graphical chat, inline diffs, plan review) and — optionally — the native CLI so you can run claude from any terminal. The extension alone is enough to start; the CLI is there when you want it.
No coding experience needed. Everything is point-and-click or one-line paste. The short video above walks through the extension install; the written steps below cover the full setup plus the terminal install and troubleshooting.
Requirements: Windows 10 (version 1809 or newer) or Windows 11, 4 GB RAM, and a paid Claude account (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise, or Console with credits). The free Claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code.
If Visual Studio Code is already on your machine, jump to the next step.
Download VS Code for Windows →
Run the downloaded VSCodeUserSetup installer. On the Select Additional Tasks screen, leave the defaults checked — especially "Add to PATH" and "Register Code as an editor for supported file types". Finish the wizard and launch VS Code.
It lets you open VS Code from any terminal by typing code . later. The installer checks it by default — just don't uncheck it.
Inside VS Code, open the Extensions view. Click the squares icon in the left Activity Bar, or press Ctrl+Shift+X.
In the search box, type:
Pick Claude Code for VS Code published by Anthropic (it's the top result) and click Install.
View the extension on the Marketplace →
The extension bundles everything it needs — you do not have to install the CLI first to use it. The native CLI in the optional step below is only for running Claude from a terminal.
Claude works best pointed at a folder. In the top menu bar click:
A Windows picker opens. Choose any folder — an existing project, your Documents, or click New folder to create one — then click Select Folder.
Even an empty folder is fine — Claude can create files inside it. If you skip this, Claude has no project context to read from.
Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open the Command Palette, type:
VS Code lists every Claude Code command. Pick one of these two — either works, it's just where Claude lives:
Opens Claude as its own editor tab, taking the full editor area. Best for focusing on the chat.
Docks Claude in the right sidebar so you can chat and edit code side by side.
You can also click the Spark icon (✱) that appears at the top-right of the editor once a file is open.
The first time the panel opens, a sign-in screen appears automatically. Click Sign in, finish signing in to your Claude account in the browser, copy the authorization code it shows, paste it back into VS Code, and press Enter. Your session is ready.
Try your first prompt:
Claude researches the topic, writes a custom HTML page, and opens it in your browser. From here, talk to it like a teammate — ask it to write code, explain a function, fix bugs, or run commands.
Claude Code works with Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plans, or a Claude Console account with prepaid credits. The free Claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code. Sign up at claude.com/pricing first if you need to.
Ctrl+Shift+P — Command Palette (find any Claude Code command)
Ctrl+Esc — Toggle focus between editor and Claude
Alt+K — @-mention the current file + selection into Claude
Ctrl+B — Toggle the left sidebar
Ctrl+S — Save the current file
Want to run Claude straight from a terminal (no editor)? Install the native CLI. Pick one method. PowerShell is easiest.
Your prompt shows PS C:\Users\You> in PowerShell and C:\Users\You> (no PS) in CMD. Open PowerShell from the Start menu by typing "PowerShell". You do not need to run as Administrator.
Method 1 — PowerShell (recommended). Paste and press Enter:
Method 2 — WinGet. If you prefer Windows' package manager:
Close and reopen your terminal so the claude command is picked up, then verify:
For a full health check of your install, PATH, and auth:
Launch a terminal session from any folder by typing claude.
Claude Code uses Git Bash for its Bash tool. Installing Git for Windows is optional but recommended — without it, Claude falls back to PowerShell for running commands.
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'irm' is not recognized when running the install
You're in CMD, not PowerShell. Either open PowerShell and re-run the irm ... command, or use the WinGet method instead.
Command Palette doesn't show Claude Code commands
The extension isn't loaded. Fully close VS Code, reopen it, and try Ctrl+Shift+P again. If still missing, reinstall via Ctrl+Shift+X → search "Claude Code" by Anthropic → Install. Confirm you're on VS Code 1.98.0 or newer (Help → About).
The Spark icon (✱) is missing from the editor toolbar
By design, the editor-toolbar Spark icon only appears when a file is open. Open any file from the Explorer to see it — or just use the Command Palette, which always works. If it's missing everywhere even with a file open, run Developer: Reload Window from the Command Palette.
claude says "command not found" after installing the CLI
The terminal hasn't picked up the new PATH yet. Close every terminal window, open a fresh one, and try claude --version again.
Claude can't find Git Bash
Install Git for Windows. If it's installed but not detected, point Claude at it in your settings.json:
Should I use WSL instead?
Native Windows is the simplest path and is all most people need. Use WSL 2 only if you work with Linux toolchains or want sandboxed command execution — then install the Linux version inside your WSL terminal with curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash.
How do I know my install is healthy?
Run claude doctor in any terminal. It checks your install, PATH, version, auth state, and network, and prints what to fix.
Made by AI Service Engine · official Windows setup docs · on macOS instead?