Claude AI7 min read

Terminal Basics for Claude Code: A 20-Minute Guide for Beginners

Never used the Terminal? Open it, learn the five commands you need, install Claude Code and run your first session in a work folder, step by step on Mac or Windows.

Haojun See

Founder & Director, On The Ground

Updated 4 October 2026

You need far less Terminal than you think

To run business workflows in Claude Code you need to open the Terminal, move into a folder, and type `claude`. Everything after that is plain English. You don't need to learn programming, and you won't break your computer by following the steps below. The Terminal is just a text window where you type instructions instead of clicking. Claude Code lives there because it was built for developers, but the commands you'll actually use fit on a sticky note. This guide is part of our series on Claude Code as a workflow harness. If you're still deciding whether you need Claude Code at all, read Claude Code vs AI chat for business workflows first.

Step 1: Open the Terminal

On a Mac, press `Cmd + Space`, type `Terminal` and press Enter. On Windows, press `Win + X` and choose Windows PowerShell or Terminal. A window with a blinking cursor appears. That's it. On Windows, check you're in PowerShell: the line should start with PS C:\Users\YourName>. If there's no PS, you're in the older Command Prompt, which uses a different install command. Anthropic's terminal guide for new users has screenshots for both. A few habits help from the start: • You can't click to move the cursor. Use the arrow keys. • The up arrow brings back your last command, which saves retyping. • Paste with Cmd + V on a Mac, or Ctrl + V or right-click on Windows.

Step 2: Learn the five commands you'll actually use

Five commands cover almost everything: where am I, what's here, go there, make a folder, and open it in the file browser. • pwd shows which folder you're in (on Windows PowerShell, pwd works too). • ls lists the files and folders here. • cd Documents moves into the Documents folder. cd .. goes back up one level. • mkdir bids creates a new folder called "bids". • open . on a Mac, or explorer . on Windows, opens the current folder in Finder or File Explorer, so you can drag files in. Folder names with spaces need quotes: cd "Tender Bids". Or avoid spaces in work folder names altogether, which also makes life easier for Claude.

Step 3: Install Claude Code

Copy the install command for your computer from Anthropic's documentation, paste it into the Terminal and press Enter. At the time of writing, Anthropic's setup page gives these native installer commands: • Mac or Linux: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash • Windows PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex When it finishes, open a new Terminal window and type claude --version. If you see a version number, it worked. If the Terminal says claude isn't found, the installer prints a one-line fix at the end; the setup page explains it too. Always copy install commands from Anthropic's own site, not from a blog post or video description, so you know exactly what you're running. You need a paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise); the free plan doesn't include Claude Code.

Step 4: Make a work folder and start your first session

Create one folder per workflow, move into it, and type `claude`. For example: • cd Documents • mkdir bid-workspace • cd bid-workspace • claude The first time, a browser window opens so you can log in with your Claude account. After that, you'll see the Claude Code prompt, waiting for instructions. Claude Code works on the folder you start it in, so starting in the right folder matters. Never start it in your whole home folder or desktop; give each workflow its own space.

Step 5: Give your first instruction and approve actions

Type what you want in plain English and press Enter. Claude will ask permission before it creates or changes files or runs commands. Try something safe first, such as dragging a PDF into the folder and typing:

Read the PDF in this folder and give me a one-page summary of what it asks for, the deadline, and any mandatory requirements.

When Claude asks for permission, read what it wants to do before you approve. Approving a file read or a new summary file is low risk; deleting or moving lots of files deserves a closer look. Useful controls: • Press Esc to stop Claude mid-task. • Type /help to see available commands. • Type exit, or press Ctrl + D twice on an empty line, to leave. A good beginner habit: for anything bigger than a summary, ask Claude to describe its plan first ("tell me what you'd do before changing anything"), then approve.

Step 6: Add a CLAUDE.md file so Claude remembers your rules

Ask Claude to create a `CLAUDE.md` file in the folder with your standing instructions, and it will read that file at the start of every session. For example:

Create a CLAUDE.md file for this folder. Our company is [name], UEN [number]. Write in British English. Never invent certifications, project values or client names; only use facts from the files in the company-info folder. Always tell me which file each fact came from.

Open the file afterwards and read it. You can edit it like any text file. This single file is the first and most important part of the harness: it turns a general assistant into one that knows your company and your rules. The next guide in the series goes deeper into skills and hooks, the procedures and guardrails you add on top. If you'd rather learn this with someone beside you, our AI Foundations training walks teams through the setup on their own laptops.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to learn the command line to use Claude Code?

Only the basics. You need to open the Terminal, move into a folder with `cd`, and type `claude` to start. After that you give instructions in plain English. Five commands, `pwd`, `ls`, `cd`, `mkdir` and `open` (or `explorer` on Windows), cover almost everything a business user needs day to day.

How do I install Claude Code on Windows?

Open PowerShell (press `Win + X` and choose Windows PowerShell or Terminal), then paste the native install command from Anthropic's setup page, which at the time of writing is `irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex`. Open a new window and run `claude --version` to check. Then run `claude` and log in with a paid Claude account.

Is it safe to let Claude Code edit my files?

It's reasonably safe if you set it up sensibly. Claude Code asks permission before changing files or running commands, and it works inside the folder you start it in. Give each workflow its own folder, keep backups of anything important, read permission requests before approving, and press `Esc` to stop it if something looks wrong.

Is there a way to use Claude Code without the Terminal?

Yes. Anthropic offers a Claude Code desktop app for Mac and Windows, plus extensions for code editors such as VS Code. The Terminal remains the most flexible option and the one most guides assume, but the desktop app is a good choice if typing commands puts you off.

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