Claude Code Quick Start Guide: Install, Authenticate, Run...

Get Claude Code running in under 5 minutes. Covers installation on every platform, authentication options, your first commands, and essential shortcuts.

Key Takeaways#

Install in one command — the native installer works on macOS, Linux, and WSL without Node.js.
Three auth paths — use a Claude subscription, an API key, or an enterprise provider (Bedrock/Vertex).
Start coding immediately — cd into any project and run claude to begin.
Slash commands save time — /cost, /compact, and /clear are your daily drivers.
npm install is deprecated — since v2.1.15, use the native installer or a package manager instead.

System Requirements#

Requirement	Minimum
macOS	13+ (Ventura)
Linux	Ubuntu 20.04+ / Debian 10+
Windows	10+ (native or WSL2)
RAM	4 GB
Shell	Bash, Zsh, or Fish
Network	Outbound HTTPS to `api.anthropic.com`

Installation#

Native Installer (Recommended)#

The native installer auto-updates and does not require Node.js.

macOS / Linux / WSL:

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

Windows PowerShell:

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

Windows CMD (alternative):

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | powershell -Command -

Homebrew (macOS / Linux)#

# Stable release
brew install --cask claude-code

# Rolling / latest
brew install --cask claude-code@latest

WinGet (Windows)#

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

Note: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code is deprecated since v2.1.15. If you previously installed via npm, uninstall it and switch to one of the methods above.

Authentication#

Claude Code supports three authentication paths. Pick the one that matches your account.

1. Claude Subscription (Pro / Max / Team)#

The default flow. It opens a browser for OAuth login.

claude auth login

2. API Key#

For pay-as-you-go usage with an Anthropic API key.

claude auth login --console

This prompts for your key in the terminal instead of opening a browser. You can also set the ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable directly.

3. Enterprise — Amazon Bedrock / Google Vertex#

Set the appropriate environment variables for your cloud provider, then authenticate:

# Bedrock
export CLAUDE_CODE_USE_BEDROCK=1
claude auth login

# Vertex
export CLAUDE_CODE_USE_VERTEX=1
claude auth login

Verify Your Auth#

claude auth status

This prints your active account type and whether your session is valid.

Your First Session#

Navigate to a codebase:

cd ~/projects/my-app

Launch Claude Code:

claude

Try one of these prompts to get started:

Explain the architecture of this project
Find and fix the bug in src/auth/login.ts
Add unit tests for the calculate_total function
Refactor the API handlers to use async/await

Use slash commands while you work:

Command	What It Does
`/cost`	Show token usage and spend for the session
`/compact`	Compress conversation context to free up space
`/clear`	Wipe the conversation and start fresh
`/help`	List all available slash commands
`/model`	Switch the underlying model
`/config`	View or change project-level settings

Essential Shortcuts#

Shortcut	Action
`Escape`	Interrupt current generation
`@file`	Attach a file to your prompt (e.g., `@src/main.py`)
`Tab`	Accept autocomplete suggestion
`Up/Down`	Scroll through prompt history
`Ctrl+C`	Cancel current input or running task
`Ctrl+L`	Clear the terminal screen

Next Steps#

Project configuration — Learn how CLAUDE.md files set project-level instructions: see the CLAUDE.md guide.
Full CLI reference — Flags, subcommands, and advanced usage: see the CLI reference.
MCP integration — Connect external tools and data sources to Claude Code.
Hooks and automation — Run Claude Code headlessly in CI/CD pipelines.