Claude Code Setup on macOS: Step-by-Step Tutorial

macOS Requirements

Before installing Claude Code on your Mac, ensure you have:

• macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later
• 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB+ recommended)
• Bash or Zsh shell (Zsh is default on modern macOS)
• Active internet connection

Method 1: Native Installer (Recommended)

The fastest and recommended way to install Claude Code:

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

This installs the Claude Code binary to ~/.local/bin/claude and sets up automatic background updates.

Verify Installation

claude --version
claude doctor

If claude is not found, ensure ~/.local/bin is in your PATH:

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Method 2: Homebrew

For developers who prefer managing packages with Homebrew:

brew install --cask claude-code

Keeping Homebrew Up to Date

Homebrew installations don’t auto-update, so run periodically:

brew upgrade claude-code

Method 3: Stable Channel

If you prefer stability over bleeding-edge features, install the stable release channel:

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

The stable channel uses versions that are typically about one week old, skipping releases with major regressions.

Authentication on macOS

After installation, launch Claude Code:

claude

You’ll be prompted to authenticate. The easiest options:

Claude Pro/Max (Recommended)

1. Go to claude.ai/pricing
2. Subscribe to Pro ($20/mo) or Max ($100-200/mo)
3. Log in when prompted in Claude Code

Anthropic Console

1. Visit console.anthropic.com
2. Create an account and add billing
3. Complete the OAuth process in Claude Code

Shell Configuration Tips

Zsh (Default macOS Shell)

Add useful aliases to ~/.zshrc:

# Claude Code aliases
alias cc='claude'
alias ccc='claude --continue'
alias ccr='claude --resume'

iTerm2 Integration

Claude Code works great in iTerm2. For the best experience:

1. Use a dark theme (the terminal output is optimized for dark backgrounds)
2. Use a Nerd Font or JetBrains Mono for proper icon rendering
3. Enable “Unlimited Scrollback” in iTerm2 preferences

Project Setup

Navigate to your project and initialize:

cd ~/Projects/my-app
claude

CLAUDE.md Configuration

Create a CLAUDE.md file in your project root to give Claude Code persistent context:

# Project: My App

## Tech Stack
- React 19 + TypeScript
- Node.js 22 backend
- PostgreSQL database

## Conventions
- Use functional components
- Prefer named exports
- Write tests for all new features

Claude Code reads this file automatically on every session.

Updating & Uninstalling

Update

Native install updates automatically. Manual update:

claude update

Uninstall

Native:

rm -f ~/.local/bin/claude
rm -rf ~/.local/share/claude

Homebrew:

brew uninstall --cask claude-code

Clean up settings (optional):

rm -rf ~/.claude ~/.claude.json

Next Steps

• Claude Code for Beginners — Your first AI coding session
• Tips and Tricks — Power user techniques
• Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet — Quick reference
• Visit Claude.ai to manage your subscription