> ## Documentation Index¶
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://code.claude.com/docs/llms.txt¶
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.¶
¶
# Quickstart¶
¶
> Welcome to Claude Code!¶
¶
This quickstart guide will have you using AI-powered coding assistance in a few minutes. By the end, you'll understand how to use Claude Code for common development tasks.¶
¶
## Before you begin¶
¶
Make sure you have:¶
¶
* A terminal or command prompt open¶
* If you've never used the terminal before, check out the [terminal guide](/en/terminal-guide)¶
* A code project to work with¶
* A [Claude subscription](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=quickstart_prereq) (Pro, Max, Teams, or Enterprise), [Claude Console](https://console.anthropic.com/) account, or access through a [supported cloud provider](/en/third-party-integrations)¶
¶
<Note>¶
This guide covers the terminal CLI. Claude Code is also available on the [web](https://claude.ai/code), as a [desktop app](/en/desktop), in [VS Code](/en/vs-code) and [JetBrains IDEs](/en/jetbrains), in [Slack](/en/slack), and in CI/CD with [GitHub Actions](/en/github-actions) and [GitLab](/en/gitlab-ci-cd). See [all interfaces](/en/overview#use-claude-code-everywhere).¶
</Note>¶
¶
## Step 1: Install Claude Code¶
¶
To install Claude Code, use one of the following methods:¶
¶
<Tabs>¶
<Tab title="Native Install (Recommended)">¶
**macOS, Linux, WSL:**¶
¶
```bash theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null}¶
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash¶
```¶
¶
**Windows PowerShell:**¶
¶
```powershell theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null}¶
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex¶
```¶
¶
**Windows CMD:**¶
¶
```batch theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null}¶
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd¶
```¶
¶
**Windows requires [Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win).** Install it first if you don't have it.¶
¶
<Info>¶
Native installations automatically update in the background to keep you on the latest version.¶
</Info>¶
</Tab>¶
¶
<Tab title="Homebrew">¶
```bash theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null}¶
brew install --cask claude-code¶
```¶
¶
<Info>¶
Homebrew installations do not auto-update. Run `brew upgrade claude-code` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.¶
</Info>¶
</Tab>¶
¶
<Tab title="WinGet">¶
```powershell theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null} theme={null}¶
winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode¶
```¶
¶
<Info>¶
WinGet installations do not auto-update. Run `winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.¶
</Info>¶
</Tab>¶
</Tabs>¶
¶
## Step 2: Log in to your account¶
¶
Claude Code requires an account to use. When you start an interactive session with the `claude` command, you'll need to log in:¶
¶
```bash theme={null}¶
claude¶
# You'll be prompted to log in on first use¶
```¶
¶
```bash theme={null}¶
/login¶
# Follow the prompts to log in with your account¶
```¶
¶
You can log in using any of these account types:¶
¶
* [Claude Pro, Max, Teams, or Enterprise](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=quickstart_login) (recommended)¶
* [Claude Console](https://console.anthropic.com/) (API access with pre-paid credits). On first login, a "Claude Code" workspace is automatically created in the Console for centralized cost tracking.¶
* [Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, or Microsoft Foundry](/en/third-party-integrations) (enterprise cloud providers)¶
¶
Once logged in, your credentials are stored and you won't need to log in again. To switch accounts later, use the `/login` command.¶
¶
## Step 3: Start your first session¶
¶
Open your terminal in any project directory and start Claude Code:¶
¶
```bash theme={null}¶
cd /path/to/your/project¶
claude¶
```¶
¶
You'll see the Claude Code welcome screen with your session information, recent conversations, and latest updates. Type `/help` for available commands or `/resume` to continue a previous conversation.¶
¶
<Tip>¶
After logging in (Step 2), your credentials are stored on your system. Learn more in [Credential Management](/en/authentication#credential-management).¶
</Tip>¶
¶
## Step 4: Ask your first question¶
¶
Let's start with understanding your codebase. Try one of these commands:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
what does this project do?¶
```¶
¶
Claude will analyze your files and provide a summary. You can also ask more specific questions:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
what technologies does this project use?¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
where is the main entry point?¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
explain the folder structure¶
```¶
¶
You can also ask Claude about its own capabilities:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
what can Claude Code do?¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
how do I create custom skills in Claude Code?¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
can Claude Code work with Docker?¶
```¶
¶
<Note>¶
Claude Code reads your project files as needed. You don't have to manually add context.¶
</Note>¶
¶
## Step 5: Make your first code change¶
¶
Now let's make Claude Code do some actual coding. Try a simple task:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
add a hello world function to the main file¶
```¶
¶
Claude Code will:¶
¶
1. Find the appropriate file¶
2. Show you the proposed changes¶
3. Ask for your approval¶
4. Make the edit¶
¶
<Note>¶
Claude Code always asks for permission before modifying files. You can approve individual changes or enable "Accept all" mode for a session.¶
</Note>¶
¶
## Step 6: Use Git with Claude Code¶
¶
Claude Code makes Git operations conversational:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
what files have I changed?¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
commit my changes with a descriptive message¶
```¶
¶
You can also prompt for more complex Git operations:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
create a new branch called feature/quickstart¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
show me the last 5 commits¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
help me resolve merge conflicts¶
```¶
¶
## Step 7: Fix a bug or add a feature¶
¶
Claude is proficient at debugging and feature implementation.¶
¶
Describe what you want in natural language:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
add input validation to the user registration form¶
```¶
¶
Or fix existing issues:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
there's a bug where users can submit empty forms - fix it¶
```¶
¶
Claude Code will:¶
¶
* Locate the relevant code¶
* Understand the context¶
* Implement a solution¶
* Run tests if available¶
¶
## Step 8: Test out other common workflows¶
¶
There are a number of ways to work with Claude:¶
¶
**Refactor code**¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
refactor the authentication module to use async/await instead of callbacks¶
```¶
¶
**Write tests**¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
write unit tests for the calculator functions¶
```¶
¶
**Update documentation**¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
update the README with installation instructions¶
```¶
¶
**Code review**¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
review my changes and suggest improvements¶
```¶
¶
<Tip>¶
Talk to Claude like you would a helpful colleague. Describe what you want to achieve, and it will help you get there.¶
</Tip>¶
¶
## Essential commands¶
¶
Here are the most important commands for daily use:¶
¶
| Command | What it does | Example |¶
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------- |¶
| `claude` | Start interactive mode | `claude` |¶
| `claude "task"` | Run a one-time task | `claude "fix the build error"` |¶
| `claude -p "query"` | Run one-off query, then exit | `claude -p "explain this function"` |¶
| `claude -c` | Continue most recent conversation in current directory | `claude -c` |¶
| `claude -r` | Resume a previous conversation | `claude -r` |¶
| `claude commit` | Create a Git commit | `claude commit` |¶
| `/clear` | Clear conversation history | `/clear` |¶
| `/help` | Show available commands | `/help` |¶
| `exit` or Ctrl+C | Exit Claude Code | `exit` |¶
¶
See the [CLI reference](/en/cli-reference) for a complete list of commands.¶
¶
## Pro tips for beginners¶
¶
For more, see [best practices](/en/best-practices) and [common workflows](/en/common-workflows).¶
¶
<AccordionGroup>¶
<Accordion title="Be specific with your requests">¶
Instead of: "fix the bug"¶
¶
Try: "fix the login bug where users see a blank screen after entering wrong credentials"¶
</Accordion>¶
¶
<Accordion title="Use step-by-step instructions">¶
Break complex tasks into steps:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
1. create a new database table for user profiles¶
2. create an API endpoint to get and update user profiles¶
3. build a webpage that allows users to see and edit their information¶
```¶
</Accordion>¶
¶
<Accordion title="Let Claude explore first">¶
Before making changes, let Claude understand your code:¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
analyze the database schema¶
```¶
¶
```text theme={null}¶
build a dashboard showing products that are most frequently returned by our UK customers¶
```¶
</Accordion>¶
¶
<Accordion title="Save time with shortcuts">¶
* Press `?` to see all available keyboard shortcuts¶
* Use Tab for command completion¶
* Press ↑ for command history¶
* Type `/` to see all commands and skills¶
</Accordion>¶
</AccordionGroup>¶
¶
## What's next?¶
¶
Now that you've learned the basics, explore more advanced features:¶
¶
<CardGroup cols={2}>¶
<Card title="How Claude Code works" icon="microchip" href="/en/how-claude-code-works">¶
Understand the agentic loop, built-in tools, and how Claude Code interacts with your project¶
</Card>¶
¶
<Card title="Best practices" icon="star" href="/en/best-practices">¶
Get better results with effective prompting and project setup¶
</Card>¶
¶
<Card title="Common workflows" icon="graduation-cap" href="/en/common-workflows">¶
Step-by-step guides for common tasks¶
</Card>¶
¶
<Card title="Extend Claude Code" icon="puzzle-piece" href="/en/features-overview">¶
Customize with CLAUDE.md, skills, hooks, MCP, and more¶
</Card>¶
</CardGroup>¶
¶
## Getting help¶
¶
* **In Claude Code**: Type `/help` or ask "how do I..."¶
* **Documentation**: You're here! Browse other guides¶
* **Community**: Join our [Discord](https://www.anthropic.com/discord) for tips and support¶