Anyone who has watched a developer use Claude Code has had roughly the same reaction. The model writes the file, runs the test, reads the error, fixes the bug, commits the change. The human types in plain English. Until late 2025, almost none of that worked cleanly on Windows. You either installed a hidden Linux computer first (Windows Subsystem for Linux, usually shortened to WSL) or you waited. In October 2025, Anthropic shipped a native Windows installer that drops the Linux requirement entirely, and the install collapsed from a roughly 30-step ordeal to a single PowerShell command. For most newcomers, though — especially anyone whose projects touch Docker, bash tooling, or anything that wants a real Unix filesystem — WSL is still the better path. This is that walkthrough.
First, the account.
Before you touch the Windows machine, get an Anthropic account squared away. Claude Code is a paid product — the free Claude.ai tier won't authenticate.
- Go to
claude.aiand sign up (email or Google works). - Verify your email.
- Pick a plan from the table below and subscribe at
claude.ai/upgrade.
Does not include Claude Code. The CLI will refuse to authenticate. Don't bother.
The cheapest plan that includes Claude Code. Fits most starting-out cases — focused coding sessions, small to medium repos.
Roughly 5x the usage of Pro. The right move if you're hitting Pro limits weekly or working in big repos.
For all-day Claude Code use, agent teams, multiple concurrent sessions. Overkill for first-time setup.
Now the machine.
Plan on one reboot in the middle. Don't skip steps.
Open PowerShell as Administrator
Press the Windows key, type powershell, then click "Run as Administrator" on the right. Click Yes on the UAC prompt.
Your prompt should say PS C:\Windows\system32>.
Install WSL with Ubuntu
Paste this command and press Enter. It downloads WSL2 and Ubuntu — takes a few minutes.
PS> wsl --install -d Ubuntu
Reboot the machine
Required. Don't skip.
Ubuntu auto-launches after reboot
If it doesn't, press the Windows key, type ubuntu, press Enter.
Create your Linux user
Ubuntu prompts for a username and password. Use lowercase, no spaces. The password won't show as you type — that's normal.
Remember the password; you'll need it for sudo later.
Update Ubuntu
Paste this and press Enter. Enter your password when asked.
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Let it finish — could be a couple of minutes.
Install curl
Needed for the Claude Code installer.
$ sudo apt install curl -y
Install Claude Code
The native installer. No Node.js required.
$ curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Wait for "Claude Code successfully installed!"
Reload your shell
So the PATH picks up.
$ source ~/.bashrc
Verify the install
$ claude doctor
You want "Currently running: native" with a version. If you get "command not found," close the Ubuntu window completely, reopen, try again.
Launch and log in
$ claude
A browser window opens on Windows. Log in with your Anthropic account, approve, return to the terminal.
Set up a project the right way
This part matters — keep your project files inside the Linux filesystem, not on /mnt/c/.... Accessing Windows files from WSL is dramatically slower.
$ mkdir -p ~/projects/test-claude$ cd ~/projects/test-claude$ claude
Type hello. If it answers, you're done.
For daily use.
Re-entering Ubuntu
Open it from the Start menu, or run wsl from any PowerShell window.
Browse WSL files from Windows
Type \\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\yourusername\projects into the File Explorer address bar.
Better terminal
Install Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store. It auto-detects Ubuntu and gives you tabs.
VS Code integration
Install VS Code on Windows, add the "WSL" extension, then run code . from inside any Ubuntu project directory.
The whole exercise is closer to installing Spotify than to what setting up a development environment used to be. The harder skill, which this guide doesn't teach, is what to do with Claude Code once it's running.