Run Claude Code on Windows with WSL

Searching “ubuntu claude command not found” usually means you installed Claude Code inside WSL and the shell cannot see it yet. Claude Code’s native installer targets macOS, Linux, and WSL, so on Windows the Linux build runs under WSL. Native Windows is supported too; WSL 2 is the one Windows route that also gets sandboxing.

1. Decide: WSL or native Windows

Both are supported on Anthropic’s setup page. Pick WSL 2 for Linux toolchains or sandboxed command execution; pick native Windows if your projects and tools are Windows-native. For the native route, use Install Claude Code on Windows instead. WSL 1 runs Claude Code but has no sandboxing.

2. Install WSL and Ubuntu

wsl --install

Run this in an Administrator PowerShell, then restart: it enables WSL and installs Ubuntu on WSL 2 by default.

wsl --list --online

Lists other distributions; install a specific one with wsl --install -d <Distro>.

3. Run the Linux installer inside Ubuntu

Open the Ubuntu app from the Start menu, not PowerShell or CMD, then run the Linux installer:

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

Downloads and installs the claude launcher to ~/.local/bin/claude inside WSL.

claude --version

Prints a version such as 2.1.211 (Claude Code) once the install directory is on your PATH.

4. Fix the PATH if claude is missing

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

Adds the install directory to your PATH for good, the usual cure for “command not found” right after installing. More fixes: claude: command not found.

5. Open a project the fast way

cd ~/projects/my-app && claude

Starts a session scoped to that folder; keep the project in your Linux home (~/), not under /mnt/c/.

Reading the Windows filesystem across from WSL is slow, and Anthropic’s troubleshooting page warns that search returns fewer results on /mnt/c/. Clone into /home/ for full-speed file reads, then begin your first session.

Verify it worked

Run claude doctor in Ubuntu for read-only install diagnostics. If it reports no errors and claude --version prints a number, WSL is ready.

If it fails:

• wsl --install prints the WSL help text instead of installing — WSL is already present. Run wsl --list --online, then wsl --install -d Ubuntu.
• claude: command not found in Ubuntu — the install directory is not on your PATH yet; run the export PATH line in step 4 and reopen the shell.
• Search misses files or feels slow — the project sits on /mnt/c/; move it to /home/ on the Linux filesystem.