Version: 1.1

Date: February 2026

This guide covers a basic setup to get you running with Claude Code. It's enough to start doing real work: drafting content, preparing client materials, building a knowledge base that compounds over time. You can go deeper later, but this gets you productive on day one.

A note on data privacy: Claude Code runs on a Pro (or Max/Teams) subscription. On these plans, Anthropic may use your conversations to improve its models unless you opt out. To disable this, go to claude.ai > Settings > Privacy and toggle off “Help improve Claude.” It takes ten seconds. If you’re using Claude for Work or API access, your data is not used for training by default.

WHAT YOU NEED

• A computer (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
• A Claude subscription (Pro, Max, or Teams) at claude.ai/pricing
• A terminal — called Terminal on macOS and PowerShell on Windows (both come pre-installed)
• Windows only: Git for Windows — download free from git-scm.com/downloads/win. macOS and Linux need nothing extra.

STEP 1: INSTALL CLAUDE CODE

This is the most technical part of the guide. If you’re not used to working in a terminal, that’s fine, you’re just typing short commands and pressing Enter. A command is a text instruction you give your computer instead of clicking through menus.

Open your terminal: