Sign in
The CLI is installed, but it doesn't know who you are yet. It needs to connect to your Claude account before it can do anything. That's a one-time sign-in. Just run:
claude
The first time you launch it, two things happen:
- Your web browser opens to a Claude sign-in page. If you're already signed in to Claude there, it may just show a confirmation screen.
- The page asks you to approve the CLI's access. You click approve.
That's it. The browser shows a "you can close this tab" message, you go back to the terminal, and the CLI is now signed in as you.
Later, to switch accounts or sign out, use /login and /logout
from inside a session. (For running on a server, there's also
claude setup-token — the next step covers where that fits.)
You won't be asked for an API key or a card
If you've read anything about using AI tools "through an API," you may be bracing for an API key, a billing setup, a credit card. For signing in as an individual, none of that. You sign in with the same Claude account you use in the browser. One catch: the CLI needs a paid Claude plan — the free Claude.ai tier doesn't include it. If you have Pro or Max, your paid Claude plan (Pro or Max) covers it. (No subscription? You can instead point the CLI at API credits from the Console — more on that in a moment.)
API keys are a real thing and they have real uses, mostly for running this stuff on servers or inside other programs, and the next step explains where they fit. But for you, on your own machine, today: a browser sign-in with your normal account, and you're in.
Run claude now and complete the browser step. The next
two steps explain what that sign-in actually set up.