How to Install Claude Code on Windows (WSL & Git Bash)

Windows Requirements

Windows 10 version 1809+ or Windows Server 2019+
4 GB RAM minimum
Active internet connection
One of: WSL, Git Bash, or PowerShell

Choose Your Setup Method

Claude Code on Windows works through two primary approaches:

WSL (Recommended) — Run Claude Code inside Windows Subsystem for Linux
Native Windows with Git Bash — Run Claude Code directly on Windows

Option 1: WSL Setup (Recommended)

WSL gives you the best Claude Code experience on Windows. Both WSL 1 and WSL 2 are supported, but WSL 2 is recommended as it supports Bash tool sandboxing for enhanced security.

Step 1: Install WSL

If you don’t have WSL installed yet:

wsl --install

This installs WSL 2 with Ubuntu by default. Restart your computer after installation.

Step 2: Install Claude Code in WSL

Open your WSL terminal (Ubuntu) and run:

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

Step 3: Verify

claude --version
claude doctor

That’s it! Claude Code runs natively inside your WSL environment with full Linux compatibility.

Option 2: Native Windows with Git Bash

Step 1: Install Git for Windows

Download and install Git for Windows which includes Git Bash.

Step 2: Install Claude Code

PowerShell:

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

CMD:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

Step 3: Configure Git Bash Path (if needed)

For portable Git installations, specify the path to your bash.exe:

$env:CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH = "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe"

Option 3: WinGet

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

WinGet installations don’t auto-update. Run winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode periodically.

Authentication

Launch Claude Code and authenticate:

claude

You’ll be guided through the OAuth process. Options include:

Claude Pro/Max Plan: Subscribe at claude.ai/pricing for unified access
Anthropic Console: Set up at console.anthropic.com with active billing

Windows-Specific Tips

Use Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal provides the best experience for Claude Code on Windows:

Supports multiple tabs (WSL, PowerShell, CMD)
Better color rendering for terminal output
GPU-accelerated text rendering
Customizable themes and fonts

Recommended Terminal Font

Install JetBrains Mono or Cascadia Code for the best code rendering experience.

File System Performance in WSL

For best performance, keep your project files inside the WSL file system (/home/username/projects/) rather than on the Windows mount (/mnt/c/).

# Good - fast
cd ~/projects/my-app
claude

# Slow - crosses file system boundary
cd /mnt/c/Users/me/projects/my-app
claude

Troubleshooting

”command not found” in WSL

Ensure the PATH includes the install location:

export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc

PowerShell Execution Policy

If the PowerShell installer is blocked:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Firewall Issues

If Claude Code can’t connect, ensure your firewall allows outbound HTTPS traffic to claude.ai and anthropic.com domains.

Updating & Uninstalling

Update

claude update

Or for WinGet: winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode

Uninstall