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Claude Code · Install and setup

command not found: claude

Claude Code installed, but your shell can’t find the claude command, almost always a PATH issue.

Message

The exact error

Claude Code
zsh: command not found: claude

Also appears as:

Linux (bash)
bash: claude: command not found
Windows CMD
'claude' is not recognized as an internal or external command
PowerShell
claude : The term 'claude' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet

Meaning

What it means

Your shell looks for commands in the folders listed in PATH. The installer put claude somewhere that isn’t on that list yet, or the terminal you’re using was opened before the install and still has the old PATH.

Causes

Common causes

  • You only installed the VS Code extension: it bundles a private copy of Claude Code and doesn’t put claude on your PATH
  • The terminal was opened before installing
  • The install folder isn’t on your PATH
  • On Windows, claude.exe went missing after an update

Fix

How to fix it

  1. Installed only the VS Code extension?

    Run the standalone installer to get the claude command in your terminal: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash on macOS and Linux, or irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex in PowerShell.

  2. Open a new terminal

    The window you installed from keeps its old PATH. Open a fresh terminal and run claude --version.

  3. Check where it’s installed

    The native installer puts claude in ~/.local/bin on macOS and Linux and in %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin on Windows. If the file exists but its folder isn’t in PATH, add it in your shell profile (macOS/Linux) or in System Properties › Environment Variables (Windows), then open a new terminal.

    macOS / Linux
    ls ~/.local/bin/claude
echo $PATH
    Windows PowerShell
    Test-Path $env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin\claude.exe
where.exe claude

  4. Follow Anthropic’s PATH steps

    The Verify your PATH section covers each platform in detail.

Related

Related errors

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