🚀 Installing Claude Code CLI on Windows 11: A Complete Setup Guide
Step-by-step instructions to run Claude Code CLI inside PowerShell or CMD for developers working with AI, coding, and automation.
Guide
Introduction
Claude Code CLI is a powerful command-line tool by Anthropic that allows developers to interact with Claude directly from their terminal. It’s especially useful for AI workflows, coding automation, and seamless integration into development environments.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to install and configure Claude Code CLI on Windows 11, including setup inside PowerShell and CMD.
1. Run the Installation Script
Open PowerShell and execute the following command:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
This will automatically download and install the latest version of Claude Code CLI.
2. Verify Installation
If successful, you should see an output similar to this:
Claude Code successfully installed!
Version: 1.0.86
Location: C:\Users\<YourUser>\.local\bin\claude.exe
3. Fix the PATH Variable
By default, Windows may not recognize the claude command because the installation folder is not in your PATH.
You can fix this in two ways:
Quick Method (PowerShell)
setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Users\<YourUser>\.local\bin"
Close and reopen PowerShell afterwards.
Manual Method (GUI)
Press Win + R, type
sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.Go to Advanced → Environment Variables.
Under User variables, edit the
Pathvariable.Add a new entry:
C:\Users\<YourUser>\.local\bin
Save and restart PowerShell.
4. Test the CLI
Now you can verify everything is working:
claude --version
Or get help:
claude --help
5. Recommended Terminal
For the best experience, install Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store.
It offers:
Multiple tabs (PowerShell, CMD, WSL, Git Bash)
Better Unicode/emoji support
Custom themes and split view
Predictive IntelliSense in PowerShell (press F2)
Conclusion
With Claude Code CLI successfully installed, you can now interact with Claude directly from your terminal. Whether you are coding, automating workflows, or experimenting with AI in finance and tech, this setup makes your development environment much more efficient.
Next step? Explore claude -p "your prompt" for non-interactive scripting, or just run claude to enter the interactive REPL session.