Get started with Claude Code

Before you start

Have access to a supported Claude account or another supported authentication option. Follow the official quickstart for current requirements and billing. This guide uses the terminal version; desktop and editor options are linked in the official documentation.

1. Open a terminal and install

A terminal is a window where you type commands. On Windows, open Start, search for PowerShell, and open it. On macOS, search for Terminal. Use the installer for your system in the official quickstart below. Do not paste a Windows command into a Mac terminal.

Open installation commands for your system ↗

After installation, open a new terminal window and check that this prints a version number:

claude --version

2. Open your practice folder

Create a folder called ai-practice in your Documents folder and put a short notes.txt inside it. In Windows File Explorer, open that folder, right-click its background, and choose Open in Terminal when available. Otherwise type cd followed by your folder’s full path in quotes; cd means change directory.

This is a Windows example: replace YOUR_NAME and use your actual folder path. On macOS or Linux, use that system’s path instead.

cd "C:\Users\YOUR_NAME\Documents\ai-practice"

3. Start Claude Code and sign in

Run the command below in your practice folder and follow the sign-in prompts. Only trust a project after you know what it contains.

claude

4. Give it a small first task

Type this inside the Claude Code session, not at the normal PowerShell prompt. After reading the answer, ask for one specific change and inspect the result.

Read notes.txt and suggest a clearer structure. Explain your reasoning. Show the proposed text first and wait for my approval before saving.

1. For a library prompt, choose one listing Claude Code and replace its placeholders.
2. Paste it into this session and identify the files it should use.
3. Read permission requests, review file changes, and test the result. Keep a backup before experimenting.

If a command is not recognised

Reopen your terminal first. If the problem remains, use the installation troubleshooting link in the official quickstart. A command entered in the wrong shell can also fail. Copy the exact error when asking for help.