Is Claude Code free on Windows?

The Claude Code extension for VS Code is completely free. You only pay for using Anthropic's Claude API. At signup, you get $5 in free credits, enough for about 200,000 words generated. After that, pricing starts at $0.025 per 1,000 words with the Claude Haiku model (the cheapest). For beginner use, you typically spend less than $5 per month.

Can I use Claude Code without an internet connection?

No, Claude Code requires a permanent internet connection. The Claude AI runs on Anthropic's servers in the cloud—your computer sends requests over the internet and receives responses. Only VS Code works locally. If you lose connection, Claude Code can't generate code anymore, but you keep access to files already created in VS Code.

What's the minimum Windows version needed?

Claude Code works on Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018) or higher, and all Windows 11 versions. If you're using an older Windows 10 version, update your system via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Older versions like Windows 7 or 8 aren't compatible with the latest Visual Studio Code.

How long does the complete installation take?

The complete installation takes 10 to 15 minutes for a beginner following this guide. Breakdown: 3 minutes to download and install VS Code, 1 minute to install the Claude Code extension, 5 minutes to create your Anthropic account and get your API key, 2 minutes to configure the key in VS Code, and 3 minutes to create and test your first project. With a good internet connection, you can finish in under 10 minutes.

Does Claude Code slow down my Windows PC?

No, Claude Code has virtually no impact on your PC's performance. VS Code uses about 200 MB of RAM and less than 2% CPU at rest. The Claude Code extension adds only 20 to 30 MB. All the AI computing power happens on Anthropic's servers, not your computer. Even a basic desktop PC from 2018 with 4 GB of RAM runs Claude Code without issues.

Can I use Claude Code with editors other than VS Code?

Currently, the official Claude Code extension works only with Visual Studio Code. Alternatives like Cursor integrate Claude directly, or there are third-party extensions for other editors, but the most stable and complete experience remains VS Code. If you prefer another editor, you can use the Claude API directly via their web interface at claude.ai, but you lose Claude Code's specific features.

Install Claude Code on Windows: Step-by-Step Guide

Want to use Claude Code on your Windows PC but don't know where to start? This guide shows you exactly how to install and set up Claude Code on Windows 10 or 11, even if you've never opened a terminal before. The complete installation takes about 10 minutes and requires zero technical knowledge. You'll install Visual Studio Code, add the Claude Code extension, configure your API access, and create your first project. Each step is detailed with screenshots and simple explanations so you can follow along without getting lost.

What are the prerequisites for installing Claude Code on Windows?

You need three things before starting: Windows 10 or 11 up to date, 4 GB of RAM minimum, and a stable internet connection. Claude Code works on any recent PC—you don't need a powerhouse machine.

Here's the complete list of requirements:

Operating System: Windows 10 (version 1809 or higher) or Windows 11
RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended for optimal comfort
Disk Space: 500 MB for Visual Studio Code and the extension
Internet Connection: required to download tools and communicate with the Claude API
Admin Rights: needed only for initial installation

You don't need a powerful graphics card or the latest processor. Claude Code runs in the cloud via Anthropic's API—your computer just serves as the interface. Even a basic desktop PC from 2018 works perfectly.

If you're on a Mac, check out our macOS installation guide for details specific to that environment.

How do you download and install Visual Studio Code?

Go to code.visualstudio.com, download the Windows installer, and run it accepting the default options. Installation takes 2 to 3 minutes max.

Here's the detailed process:

Open your browser and go to code.visualstudio.com
Click the big blue "Download for Windows" button
The file VSCodeUserSetup-x64-1.XX.X.exe downloads automatically
Double-click the downloaded file in your Downloads folder
Accept the terms of use and click "Next"
Leave the installation path as default (C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code)
Important: check the "Add to PATH" box during installation
Also check "Create a Desktop icon" for easy access
Click "Install" and wait 2 minutes
Uncheck "Launch Visual Studio Code" for now and click "Finish"

Visual Studio Code (VS Code for short) is a free code editor developed by Microsoft. It's the tool developers use to write code, but you don't need to know how to code to use it with Claude Code. Think of VS Code as a specialized Word for code.

The download is about 90 MB. If your antivirus asks for confirmation, approve it: VS Code is official and safe software, used by over 20 million developers according to Microsoft's stats.

How do you install the Claude Code extension in VS Code?

Open VS Code, click the Extensions icon (four squares) in the left sidebar, type "Claude Code" in the search box, and click "Install". The extension installs in seconds.

Detailed steps:

Launch Visual Studio Code from the desktop icon or Start menu
Find the vertical icon bar on the left side of the window
Click the icon that looks like four small squares (that's the extension manager)
In the search bar that appears at the top, type exactly: Claude Code
The official extension appears as the first result (verify it's published by Anthropic)
Click the blue "Install" button to the right of the name
Wait 10 to 15 seconds while it installs
A confirmation message appears in the bottom right: "Extension installed successfully"
A new Claude icon (a small orange logo) appears in your left sidebar

If you can't find the extension, make sure you typed "Claude Code" and not just "Claude". There are several Claude-related extensions, but the one we want is called exactly "Claude Code" or "Claude Dev" depending on the version.

The extension is about 15 MB and won't slow down your computer. It simply adds an interface in VS Code to communicate with Claude via Anthropic's API.

How do you get and configure your Claude API key?

Go to console.anthropic.com, create a free account, generate an API key in settings, and paste it into VS Code when the extension asks. This key lets Claude Code communicate with the Claude AI.

Complete procedure:

Open console.anthropic.com in your browser
Click "Sign Up" in the top right
Create an account with your email (you'll get a confirmation email to verify)
Once logged in, click your name in the top right then "API Keys"
Click the "Create Key" button
Give your key a name (for example: "Claude Code Windows")
Click "Create": your key appears (it starts with "sk-ant-")
Critical: copy this key immediately and save it in a text file
You can never see this key again—if you lose it, you'll need to create a new one

Now configure the key in VS Code:

Go back to Visual Studio Code
Click the Claude icon in the left sidebar
A window asks for your API key
Paste the key you just copied (Ctrl+V)
Press Enter to confirm
A message confirms the connection works

Your API key is like a password that lets your computer talk to Claude's servers. Anthropic gives you $5 in free credits at signup, which represents about 200,000 words generated by Claude according to their official pricing documentation. More than enough for your first projects.

Warning: never share your API key publicly (on GitHub, Discord, etc.). If someone gets it, they can use your credits instead of you.

How do you create your first project with Claude Code?

Create a new folder on your Desktop, open it in VS Code via File > Open Folder, then launch Claude Code and ask it to create a simple web page. In 30 seconds, you'll see Claude write code for you.

Here's how:

Right-click on your Windows Desktop
Select "New > Folder"
Name the folder "my-first-claude-project"
In VS Code, click "File" in the menu at the top
Select "Open Folder..."
Navigate to your Desktop and select the folder you just created
Click "Select Folder"
VS Code might ask if you trust the authors: click "Yes, I trust the authors"
Now click the Claude icon in the left sidebar
In the text box at the bottom, type: "Create me a simple web page that displays Hello World as a large title"
Press Enter

Claude will then:

Automatically create an index.html file in your folder
Write the necessary HTML code
Show you each step of what it's doing
Offer to preview the result

To see your web page, right-click the index.html file in the file explorer on the left, then select "Reveal in File Explorer". Double-click the file: it opens in your browser.

This first test shows you Claude Code's power: you describe what you want in plain English, and Claude writes the technical code for you. This is exactly the principle we teach at Skilzy, where you learn to build complete applications without writing a single line of code yourself.

Want to go further? Discover the 20 essential commands you can give Claude Code to create more complex projects.

What are the common problems and their solutions?

The three most frequent errors are: invalid API key, internet connection issues, and antivirus conflicts. Each one solves in a few minutes.

Error: "Invalid API Key"

If you see this message, your API key isn't configured correctly. Solutions:

Verify you copied the complete key (it should start with "sk-ant-")
Make sure you didn't add spaces at the beginning or end
Go back to console.anthropic.com and generate a new key if needed
In VS Code, click the gear icon in the bottom left > Settings > Extensions > Claude Code > Edit API Key

Error: "Connection timeout"

Claude Code can't reach Anthropic's servers. Check:

Your internet connection works (open a website to test)
Your Windows firewall isn't too restrictive (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Firewall)
Add an exception for VS Code if needed
If you're on a corporate network, it might block API access

VS Code won't launch after installation

Rare cases where VS Code refuses to start:

Restart your computer (fixes 80% of issues)
Uninstall VS Code via Settings > Apps > Visual Studio Code > Uninstall
Download the latest version from the official website
Reinstall as administrator (right-click the installer > Run as administrator)

Claude Code extension doesn't appear

If you don't see the Claude icon after installation:

Close VS Code completely (File > Quit)
Reopen VS Code
Go to Extensions and verify Claude Code is in the "Installed" list
Click the small refresh icon next to the extension if it appears
As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the extension

The Claude Code community on Discord and Anthropic forums are also excellent resources if you hit a specific problem. You can also compare with Cursor, an alternative that works differently and might suit some Windows setups better.

Conclusion

You now have Claude Code running on your Windows PC. The complete installation took you less than 15 minutes: Visual Studio Code as the base, the Claude Code extension for the interface, your API key for AI access, and your first project to test that everything works. The next step is exploring what you can create with this tool: websites, applications, automations. Start with simple projects and gradually increase complexity. Claude Code learns from your requests and improves through conversations.

At Skilzy, we show you how to turn this installation into professional skills. Our learning method guides you step by step to build real applications, even if today you can't tell the difference between HTML and CSS. Check out our complete beginner tutorial to discover everything you can accomplish with Claude Code.