How to download Claude desktop on Mac and Windows

To download Claude desktop, go to claude.com/download, pick the installer for your system, open the file and sign in. This guide is current as of November 1, 2026, and covers Mac and Windows, with a short note on Linux.

The app is available on every plan, Free included, though some features need a paid plan. Claude Code also runs inside the desktop app. If you want the command-line version instead, see our guide on how to install Claude Code.

What you need first

Anthropic's installation article lists these requirements as of November 1, 2026:

You also need a Claude account, or an email address to create one.

How to download Claude desktop on Mac

1. Open claude.com/download.
2. Click Download for macOS. The download page links to a universal DMG, so the same installer covers Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
3. Open the downloaded file to finish the installation.
4. Launch Claude from your Applications folder.

How to download Claude desktop on Windows

1. Open claude.com/download.
2. Choose the setup file that matches your PC. The page offers separate x64 and ARM64 downloads, and a Microsoft Store badge.
3. Open the downloaded file to finish the installation.
4. Launch Claude from the Start menu.

How to sign in

Start the app and sign in with your account. Per Anthropic's login article, there are two ways:

• Google. Click "Continue with Google" and enter your Google credentials.
• Email. Enter your address and click "Continue with email". Claude sends you a link. If you open it on the same device, you are logged in. On a different device, the link gives you a verification code to enter where you asked for the email.

There is no separate Claude password at this time. Use the same email address on every device.

Fix common problems

The login email never arrives

Anthropic's advice is to check spam, junk and quarantine folders, allowlist the domain @mail.anthropic.com, and wait a few minutes before trying again. On a work or school address, your IT team may need to change email security settings.

You get an error after clicking the email link

Note the error message. If it mentions your phone number, Anthropic points to its article on verifying a phone number. Check the Claude status page too, because a system-wide incident can block logins until it is fixed.

You have two accounts under one email

If one email address has both an individual and a Team or Enterprise account, click your initials in the bottom-left corner and choose the account you want. A check mark shows the active one.

Google sign-in keeps failing

Anthropic says you can stop using Sign in with Google for "Claude by Anthropic" in your Google account's connections page, then try "Continue with Google" again.

The app will not open

Anthropic has had at least one launch bug. On February 25, 2026, Claude Desktop failed to start for some Windows users and for Mac users on older macOS versions. The status incident says the fix shipped in version 1.1.4328 and asked affected users to download the latest version from claude.com/download. Reinstalling from the official page is the first thing to try. Anthropic's installation article has no other launch troubleshooting steps, so if a clean reinstall does not help, contact support.

Linux and company installs

Linux is a beta. Anthropic recommends its apt repository, because updates then arrive with normal system updates. The commands are in the installation article. A .deb file also works, but it does not get updates through apt. Computer use and dictation are not available on Linux.

Companies that roll the app out to staff can use MSIX installers on Windows and PKG installers on Mac, according to the download page. The page links to separate deployment guides.

What the sources do not say

The installation article does not explain how updates are delivered on Mac and Windows, and it has no uninstall steps. We did not install the app for this guide, so every step comes from Anthropic's pages as of November 1, 2026. Requirements and downloads change, so check the download page if something looks different.