Go from nothing installed to your first real command, where Claude learns what you recruit and builds your setup files for you. No coding experience needed, just follow each step and copy-paste where shown.
Free. Works on Mac and Windows.
One quick install, then you are talking to Claude on your own machine. Take it slowly, it is just copy and paste.
Terminal (Mac) and PowerShell (Windows) are just text windows where you type a command instead of clicking a button. You paste one install command into that window and Claude Code sets itself up. That's all you need to know.
Follow only the line for your computer where you see 🍎 MAC or ⊞ WIN. Dark boxes are commands to copy and paste. Green boxes show what success looks like.
A text window with a blinking cursor. This is where you'll paste the install command.
Cmd + Space, type Terminal, press Enter.This is all that opens, a blinking cursor waiting for you to type. Windows looks a little different, but every command below is identical.
One command installs everything, no separate downloads and no Node.js needed. Paste the line for your computer and press Enter.
When it finishes, check it worked by typing this and pressing Enter:
Prefer the npm route? npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code works too, but it needs Node.js 22+ installed first. The command above is the simpler path and keeps itself updated automatically.
Give Claude a folder to work in. Easiest way, make it yourself on the Desktop, no command needed.
Claude CodeThen, back in your terminal, move into that folder by typing this and pressing Enter:
The quotes matter because the folder name has a space. See how the prompt now ends with Claude Code? That means you're inside the folder.
Now start Claude inside that folder. Type one word and press Enter.
Now the good part. Turn on Plan Mode, tell Claude what you do, and let it build your setup files for you.
Press Shift + Tab until you see Plan Mode at the bottom. In Plan Mode, Claude shows you a plan and waits for your approval before it creates anything.
I'm a recruiter. Here is what I do: [your niche, the roles you fill, the clients you serve, the tools you use]. Set this project up so you understand my business. Create these files: - CLAUDE.md — who I am, what I recruit, how I work, my tone of voice - context/niche.md — the roles, industries and seniority I focus on - context/clients.md — the kind of clients I serve and target - context/tools.md — the tools I use (ATS, CRM, outreach) Show me the plan first, then build the files once I approve.
What Claude will build for you:
Claude Code/
├── CLAUDE.md ← who you are, how you work
└── context/
├── niche.md ← roles + industries you focus on
├── clients.md ← who you serve and target
└── tools.md ← your ATS, CRM, outreach stack
An IDE is just a nicer window for your files and your terminal, this is what you'll see me using in my tutorials. Pick either one below. Both are free and built on the same base, so Claude Code works the same in each.
claude, it connects to the extension automatically, the same Claude Code in a clean windowThat's the whole install. From here, every RecruiterGTM tutorial just works, Claude already knows you. When you want it acting across your tools, type /mcp inside Claude Code to connect Gmail, your CRM, LinkedIn outreach and more.
Last verified August 2026. For the latest keystrokes, see code.claude.com/docs.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| "command not found: claude" | The install didn't finish, or the window was open before you installed it. Close the window, reopen it, and run claude --version again. If it persists, paste the install command once more. |
| "permission denied" 🍎 MAC | Close and reopen Terminal, then run the command again. If it still blocks, your Mac may pop up an "Install" button for developer tools, click it and wait. |
| PowerShell blocks a command ⊞ WIN | Run this once, then retry: Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process RemoteSigned |
| I'm stuck | Tell Claude Code what you were doing and paste the exact message you saw. It can walk you through the fix. Or message us. |
Keeping it updated: Claude Code keeps itself current. If it ever needs an update, it tells you the one command to run.
Skip the setup entirely. We install your Claude AI ops layer and the agents that run your desk, inside the RecruiterGTM community.