Short answer: Claude Code runs natively on Windows 10 (version 1809 or later) and Windows 11, with no WSL needed. Open PowerShell, run one command, then type claude in your project folder and sign in with your Claude account. If you'd rather not use a terminal at all, the Claude desktop app runs Claude Code on Windows too.
This guide covers installing it, choosing between native Windows and WSL, and fixing the errors people run into most. It's all from Anthropic's own documentation, checked on October 22, 2026.
(I build Morphy, a Windows app that runs Claude Code next to other AIs. It gets one line near the end.)
What you need
- Windows 10 version 1809 or later, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2019 or later, 64-bit (x64 or ARM64), with at least 4 GB of RAM.
- An internet connection, in a country Anthropic supports.
- A paid Claude plan (Pro, $20 a month or $17 billed yearly, or higher) or an Anthropic API key. Claude's free plan doesn't include Claude Code.
You don't need Node.js, administrator rights or WSL.
Install Claude Code on Windows
Open PowerShell (search for it in the Start menu; your prompt starts with PS C:\) and run:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iexOr, in Command Prompt (CMD, where the prompt has no PS):
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmdOr with WinGet:
winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCodeThe installer shows no progress while it downloads. When it's done, open a new terminal window and check it worked:
claude --versionThen go to your project folder (cd C:\path\to\your\project), run claude, and sign in when it asks.
Updates: the PowerShell and CMD installs update themselves in the background. WinGet installs don't: run winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode now and then, or set CLAUDE_CODE_PACKAGE_MANAGER_AUTO_UPDATE=1 so Claude Code runs the upgrade for you.
Native Windows or WSL?
| Native Windows | WSL 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you need | Nothing extra | WSL 2 turned on |
| Install | From PowerShell or CMD | The Linux installer, inside your WSL terminal |
| Sandboxed commands | Not supported | Supported |
| Best for | Windows projects and tools | Linux toolchains, or running commands in a sandbox |
Pick native Windows unless you already work in WSL or want Claude Code's command sandbox, which only runs in WSL 2. If you do use WSL, keep your project in the Linux file system (/home/...) rather than on /mnt/c: reading Windows files from WSL is slow, and search can find fewer matches.
Git Bash or PowerShell?
On native Windows, Git for Windows is optional:
- Without it, Claude Code runs its commands in PowerShell.
- With it, Claude Code uses Git Bash for commands, with PowerShell available next to it. Anthropic recommends installing it, since many project scripts and tools assume Bash.
If Git is installed but Claude Code can't find Git Bash, point it there in your settings.json:
{ "env": { "CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe" } }Without the terminal
- The Claude desktop app for Windows (x64 and ARM64) includes Claude Code in its Code tab, with parallel sessions, a visual diff and a preview browser. It needs a paid Claude plan.
- The VS Code extension gives you a Claude Code panel in VS Code or Cursor. It carries its own copy of Claude Code, so
claudewon't work in your terminal unless you also install it as above. - Morphy runs Claude Code natively on Windows, with nothing to install but the app, next to Codex, Copilot, Gemini and others on one canvas.
All of them are compared in the best Claude Code GUIs.
Fixing the common errors
| You see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
'irm' is not recognized | You're in CMD, not PowerShell | Open PowerShell, or use the CMD command above |
The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator | You're in PowerShell, not CMD | Use the PowerShell command (irm …) |
'claude' is not recognized right after installing | The install folder, %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin, isn't on your PATH yet | Open a new terminal; if it still fails, add that folder to your PATH |
running scripts is disabled on this system | PowerShell blocks the scripts npm creates | Use the installer above instead of npm: it isn't affected |
The process cannot access the file during install | Another installer or your antivirus still holds the download | Close other installer windows, delete %USERPROFILE%\.claude\downloads, run it again |
claude opens the Claude desktop app | An older desktop app registered its own Claude.exe first | Update the Claude desktop app |
| An error about 32-bit Windows on a 64-bit PC | You opened "Windows PowerShell (x86)" | Open "Windows PowerShell" without the x86 |
| Needs "Git for Windows (for bash) or PowerShell" | Neither shell was found | Add C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\ to your PATH, or install Git for Windows |
'claude' is not recognized right after an update | The update left a backup instead of claude.exe | Rename the newest claude.exe.old.* in %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin back to claude.exe, or reinstall |
Anthropic's installation troubleshooting has the details for each.
Questions
Do I need WSL to run Claude Code on Windows? No. It runs natively in PowerShell or CMD. WSL 2 is only needed if you want Claude Code's command sandbox.
Does Claude Code work on Windows 11? Yes, and on Windows 10 version 1809 or later, on x64 and ARM64. It doesn't run on 32-bit Windows.
Is Claude Code free on Windows? No. It needs a paid Claude plan (Pro or higher) or an API key, on every platform. See Claude Code's usage limits for how far a plan goes.
Can I run several Claude Code agents at once on Windows? Yes: see how to run multiple Claude Code agents. Conductor, a popular app for this, is Mac-only; here are the Windows alternatives.
References
- Anthropic: set up Claude Code (system requirements, install, Windows, updates), installation troubleshooting, troubleshooting (WSL performance), the desktop app, VS Code
- Git for Windows
