Claude Code Native Installer: Install Without Node.js (PowerShell, Bash, Homebrew)

Problem: Installing Claude Code through npm required Node.js 18+, caused PATH issues, and broke on certain platforms. The native installer fixes all of this with a single command that works everywhere.

Quick Start: One Command Install

Windows PowerShell:

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

macOS / Linux / WSL:

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

Homebrew (macOS/Linux):

brew install --cask claude-code

That's it. No Node.js. No npm. No PATH configuration. Run claude --version to verify.

Why the Native Installer Is Better

Anthropic released the native installer as the recommended installation method for all Claude Code users. Here's why:

The native installer handles everything automatically: downloads the right binary for your system, sets up PATH, and keeps Claude Code updated in the background.

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

The PowerShell command irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex does three things:

1. irm (Invoke-RestMethod) downloads the install script from Anthropic
2. | pipes the script content to the next command
3. iex (Invoke-Expression) executes the downloaded script

Run as Administrator for cleanest install:

# Open PowerShell as Administrator, then:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
 
# Verify installation
claude --version

Alternative for CMD users:

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

WinGet option:

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

Note: WinGet doesn't auto-update. The native installer is preferred.

macOS and Linux: curl https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

The bash installer works identically across macOS, Linux, and WSL:

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

The -fsSL flags mean:

• f: Fail silently on HTTP errors
• s: Silent mode (no progress bar)
• S: Show errors if they occur
• L: Follow redirects

Verify and start:

claude --version
cd your-project
claude

Troubleshooting

"irm is not recognized" (Windows)

You're in CMD, not PowerShell. Open PowerShell and run the command there.

"Execution policy" error (Windows)

PowerShell may block scripts by default:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

"command not found" after install

Close and reopen your terminal to reload PATH, then try claude --version again.

Already have npm version installed?

Uninstall the npm version first:

npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Then run the native installer.

What Happens After Install

Once Claude Code is installed:

1. Run claude in any project directory
2. Complete one-time authentication with your Anthropic account
3. Start coding with AI

New to Claude Code? Follow the first project tutorial to see it in action. Need more installation options? See the complete installation guide.

The native installer was announced in October 2025 as Anthropic's recommended method. It's simpler, more stable, and keeps you updated automatically. No Node.js required.