How to Install the Claude Desktop App on Windows

Type: How-to Category: Getting Started Tags: install, desktop app, Windows, download, setup, Claude for Desktop Audience: All users Last Updated: March 2026

This guide walks you through downloading and installing the Claude desktop app on a Windows PC. The desktop app gives you quick access to Claude directly from your taskbar, without needing to open a browser.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

Windows 11 (64-bit)
An active Claude account
Administrator access on your computer (required to install software)
A stable internet connection

Steps

Go to the Download Page

Open your browser and navigate to claude.ai/download.

Tip: You can also access the download page from the Claude web app by clicking your profile icon in the bottom-left corner and selecting Download Desktop App.

Download the Windows Installer

On the download page, click the Download for Windows button. The installer file (.exe) will begin downloading to your computer.

You should see the file appear in your browser's download bar or your Downloads folder. The file is typically named something like Claude-Setup-x64.exe.

Run the Installer

Locate the downloaded .exe file in your Downloads folder (or wherever your browser saves files).
Double-click the installer file to launch it.
If a User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears asking "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?", click Yes to proceed.

Complete the Installation

The installer will run automatically — no configuration screens are required. Claude installs quickly and will open as soon as the installation is complete.

You should see the Claude app launch on your screen.

Sign In to Your Account

On the Claude welcome screen, click Sign In.
Enter the email address associated with your Claude account, then click Continue.
Complete the sign-in process (password, magic link, or SSO, depending on your account setup).

Once signed in, you're ready to use Claude from your desktop.

Verify It Worked

After signing in, you should see the Claude chat interface. The Claude icon will also appear in your system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar), so you can quickly open it at any time.

To confirm the app is properly installed, you can also check:

Start Menu → search for "Claude" — the app should appear in results
Settings > Apps > Installed Apps — "Claude" should appear in the list

Common Issues

The installer won't run / I see a security warning Windows SmartScreen may flag the file if it doesn't recognize the publisher. Click More info, then Run anyway to proceed. The Claude installer is safe and downloaded directly from Anthropic's official site.

I don't see a "Download for Windows" button Make sure you're on a supported Windows version (Windows 11, 64-bit). If you're on an older OS, the button may not appear. Try accessing the page from an updated browser.

The app installed but won't open Try restarting your computer and reopening Claude from the Start Menu. If the issue persists, uninstall the app via Settings > Apps, then re-download and reinstall from claude.ai/download.

I don't have admin rights on my computer You'll need administrator permissions to install the app. Contact your IT department to request installation, or ask an administrator to run the installer on your behalf.

I'm getting a "This app can't run on your PC" error This typically means your Windows version is incompatible or you're running a 32-bit OS. Claude for Desktop requires a 64-bit version of Windows 11.