Get Started with Claude Code

Install Claude Code and use AI to organize files with plain English prompts.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

Claude Code is an AI assistant that lives in your terminal. You type plain English, and it executes real tasks on your computer. No coding experience required.

In this project, you will install Claude Code, learn its safety modes and prompting patterns, and use it to organize real files on your computer. By the end, you'll have a working setup of Claude Code, a personalized preferences file, and reusable commands you can run anytime.

What You'll Build

You'll go from never having opened a terminal to confidently using Claude Code as your personal AI assistant for file management, organization, and automation.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

  • A working Claude Code installation, fully authenticated and ready to use.
  • A personalized CLAUDE.md preferences file and a reorganized folder as proof that Claude Code works for you.
  • A mental model of how to prompt Claude Code effectively for any task, with a library of reusable prompt patterns and use cases to explore next.
  • Secret Mission: Build a multi-step "digital audit" command that analyzes storage, finds duplicates, identifies forgotten files, and produces a readable report.

Want a complete demo of how to do this project, from start to finish? Check out our 🎬 walkthrough with Maya.

Are there any prerequisites?

None. This project assumes zero coding or terminal experience. You will need a Claude Pro subscription ($20/month), and the project walks you through signing up if you don't already have one.

Get Access to Claude Code

To use Claude Code, you need a paid Claude subscription and a one-command installation. In this step, you'll get both sorted and confirm everything is working.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Get a Claude subscription (Pro or higher).
  • Install Claude Code on your system.
  • Launch Claude Code and authenticate.
Get a Claude subscription

Claude Code requires a paid Claude plan. It is included with Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise subscriptions.

✔️ I already have Pro or Max

You're all set. Move on to the next substep below to install Claude Code.

ⓧ I have a free account

  • Open your browser and go to claude.ai/upgrade.
  • Choose the Pro plan at $20/month. This includes full access to Claude Code.
  • Complete the payment process and confirm your account is active.

Why Pro?

The Pro plan ($20/month) gives you plenty of usage for the file management tasks in this project. Max plans ($100/month or $200/month) offer more usage but are unnecessary for getting started.

ⓧ I don't have a Claude account

  • Open your browser and go to claude.ai.
  • Click Sign up and create an account using your email or Google login.
  • Once your account is created, go to claude.ai/upgrade.
  • Choose the Pro plan at $20/month. This includes full access to Claude Code.
  • Complete the payment process and confirm your account is active.

Why Pro?

The Pro plan ($20/month) gives you plenty of usage for the file management tasks in this project. Max plans ($100/month or $200/month) offer more usage but are unnecessary for getting started.

Install Claude Code
  • Press Cmd+Space (macOS) or the Windows key (Windows) to open your search bar.
  • Type Terminal (macOS) or PowerShell (Windows) and press Enter to open it.
  • Double check that Claude Code is all set up and ready to go by running this command:
claude --version

What do you see?

✔️ I see a version number

Onwards!

ⓧ Command not found

Claude Code is not installed yet. Pick the tab below that matches your operating system to install it.

macOS

  • Install Claude Code by running this command:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
What does this command do?

This downloads the Claude Code installer from Anthropic's servers and runs it automatically. The installation is lightweight and auto-updates in the background to keep you on the latest version.

Windows

Which Windows terminal do I have?

If your terminal prompt starts with PS C:\ you are in PowerShell. If it shows C:\ without the PS prefix, you are in Command Prompt.

If you are in PowerShell (the default on modern Windows), install Claude Code by running this command:

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

If you are in Command Prompt instead, run this command:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
What do these commands do?

Both commands download the Claude Code installer from Anthropic's servers and run it automatically. The Command Prompt version also cleans up the temporary installer file afterwards.

The installation is lightweight and auto-updates in the background to keep you on the latest version.

Linux

  • Install Claude Code by running this command:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
What does this command do?

This downloads the Claude Code installer from Anthropic's servers and runs it automatically. The installation is lightweight and auto-updates in the background to keep you on the latest version.

Seeing a permission error?

  • On macOS/Linux, make sure you are using the built-in Terminal app. Try closing and reopening Terminal.
  • On Windows, try right-clicking PowerShell or Command Prompt and selecting Run as administrator.
  • Check your internet connection. The installer needs to download files from Anthropic's servers.

Why can't I install Claude Code?

  • After the installer finishes, close your terminal and open a fresh one.
  • Verify the installation by running:
claude --version

You should see a version number printed. This confirms Claude Code is ready.

Launch and authenticate

Now that Claude Code is installed, you need to launch it and log in with your Claude account.

  • In your terminal, type claude and press Enter.
  • Then inside Claude Code, type /login and press Enter. A browser window should open. Complete the Anthropic login. Once done get back to the terminal.

✔️ I see the folder trust prompt

You have launched Claude Code before, so it skips the login and first-time setup screens. Continue to the "Trust the folder and complete setup" substep below.

ⓧ I see a theme selection

This is your very first time launching Claude Code. Follow along with each screen below.

Choose a theme

The first prompt asks which colour theme to display in your terminal.

  • Use the arrow keys to highlight Dark mode (or whichever you prefer) and press Enter. You can change this later with the /theme command.
Login to Claude Code

Claude Code shows a welcome screen and asks you to select a login method.

  • Select option 1: Claude account with subscription and press Enter.
  • Your browser opens automatically for you to log in. If it does not open, copy the URL shown in the terminal and paste it into your browser.
  • Log in with the same Claude account you used for your subscription.
  • Once authenticated, return to your terminal.

ⓧ I see a login option

This is your first time using Claude Code, so it opens a link in your browser for you to log in. If the browser does not open automatically, press c to copy the login URL to your clipboard, then paste it into your browser manually.

  • Log in with the same Claude account you used for your subscription.
  • Once authenticated, return to your terminal. Claude Code shows the theme selection prompt (covered in the tab above).

Will I need to log in every time?

No. Once authenticated, your credentials are stored and you will not need to log in again.

Trust the folder and complete setup

After authenticating, Claude Code asks whether you trust the folder it is running in. This prompt appears every time you open Claude Code in a new folder, not just the first time.

  • Use the arrow keys to highlight Yes, I trust this folder and press Enter.

Why does Claude ask about folder trust?

Claude Code can read and modify files inside the folder it runs in. The trust prompt ensures you never accidentally give it access to a folder you did not intend. You will see this prompt once per new folder.

  • Type hello, what can you do? and press Enter to confirm Claude Code is responding.

Claude Code should reply with a summary of its capabilities. You now have a working AI assistant in your terminal.

Not seeing the welcome screen?

  • Make sure you completed the browser login step. Check your browser for any open Claude authentication tabs.
  • If the browser showed a code instead of redirecting back, paste that code into the terminal where prompted. This happens when the browser cannot reach Claude Code's local callback server.
  • Try typing claude again. If you see a login prompt, your first attempt may have timed out.

Help me troubleshoot Claude Code authentication

Check which model you're using

Claude Code can use different AI models behind the scenes. The model you get by default depends on your subscription plan. Pro subscribers default to Sonnet 4.6, while Max subscribers default to Opus 4.7.

  • See which model you are currently using by typing this command and pressing Enter:
/model

A picker appears showing your current model highlighted. Press Escape to close it without changing anything.

When should I use each model?

Each model trades off between speed, capability, and how much of your subscription allowance it uses per response.

  • Sonnet — fast and efficient. Handles everyday tasks like file organization, automation, and general questions. Default for Pro plans. Best choice for this project.
  • Opus — most capable. Best for complex multi-step reasoning, large-scale analysis, and difficult problems. Default for Max plans. Uses significantly more of your allowance per response, so you get fewer total responses per day.
  • Haiku — fastest and lightest. Good for quick, simple tasks like renaming a file or getting a short answer. Uses the least allowance but can miss nuance on complex prompts.
  • Switch to Sonnet for this project by using the arrows to select the option and pressing Enter. Sonnet handles everything in this project while using less of your daily allowance. Save Opus for when you have a genuinely difficult problem that needs deeper reasoning.

Your AI assistant is installed and ready to go. Next up, you'll give Claude a real task and see its safety features in action.

Understand Your Safety Net

Give Claude Your First Task

Claude Code is installed and responding. Time to give it a real task with real files on your computer.

Your Downloads folder is probably full of random files that have piled up over weeks or months. In this step, you will ask Claude to analyze that folder, propose an organization plan, and sort everything into subfolders. Along the way, you will learn how Claude asks for your permission before doing anything.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Ask Claude to analyze your Downloads folder.
  • Learn how to approve or reject Claude's actions.
  • Watch Claude organize your files into subfolders.
Ask Claude to look at your Downloads folder

Before organizing anything, you want to understand what is in there. You will ask Claude to scan your Downloads folder and report back what it finds.

  • Make sure Claude Code is open in your terminal. If you closed it, type claude and press Enter to start a new session.
  • Type the following prompt and press Enter:
Look at my Downloads folder and tell me: how many files are there, what types of files do you see, and what is the oldest file?
  • If Claude Code shows a Permissions dialog listing the command it wants to run, press Enter to approve it.

How do I decide whether to approve?

Read actions are always safe. If Claude says it wants to move, rename, or delete something, read the details first. If you are unsure, deny it and Claude will explain what it needs.

On macOS, you may also see a system popup asking whether to allow Claude Code access to your Downloads folder. Click Allow. This is a one-time macOS permission, separate from Claude's own dialogs.

Take a moment to read Claude's summary. You now know what is in your Downloads folder without opening a single file yourself.

Tell Claude to organize it

Now that you know what is in there, tell Claude how you want it organized. Be specific about which file types go into which folders.

  • Type the following prompt and press Enter. Customize the categories to match the file types Claude found:
My Downloads folder is a mess. Can you organize it into subfolders by file type? Show me your plan before you move anything.

Why ask Claude to show its plan first?

Including "show me your plan first" in your prompt forces Claude to stop and explain before acting. You get to see exactly how many files will move and where they will go. This is a habit worth building: always ask Claude to show its work before making changes.

  • Claude presents a plan showing how many files it will move to each subfolder. Read through it.
  • If the plan looks good, type yes and press Enter to approve.
  • Claude starts moving files. It asks permission for each mv (move) command. Approve each one by pressing Enter.

Too many permission prompts?

If Claude asks permission for every single file move and you are tired of pressing Enter, look for the option that says Always approve mv or similar. Selecting it lets Claude run all mv commands for the rest of this session without asking each time.

Help me manage Claude Code's permission prompts

💡 Use Plan Mode when you just want ideas

If you ever want Claude to think through a problem without touching any files, press Shift+Tab twice to enter Plan Mode. In this mode, Claude reads and analyzes but never moves, renames, or deletes anything.

Press Shift+Tab twice again to return to normal mode when you are ready to let Claude act.

💡 Three habits for better prompts

These three patterns work for any task you give Claude Code, not just file organization.

  • Be specific: name the folder path, file types, and destination. Vague prompts produce vague results.
  • Ask for a plan first: include "show me your plan before you start" so you always know what will happen before it happens.
  • Build on results: after Claude finishes, refine with follow-ups like "also sort by date" or "undo that and try organizing by project instead." Claude remembers the full conversation.
Check what Claude did

Claude reports a summary when it finishes. But you should always verify with your own eyes.

  • Open your Downloads folder in Finder (macOS) or File Explorer (Windows).
  • You should see new subfolders: Documents, Images, Videos, and Misc.
  • Open each subfolder and spot-check that the right files landed in the right places.
  • Back in Claude Code, type /cost and press Enter to see how many tokens that task used.

What is /cost?

The /cost command shows how much of your subscription's usage you have consumed this session. It is a handy way to track how "expensive" different tasks are. Simple file organization typically uses very little.

Files ended up in the wrong folder?

No problem. This is normal. Just ask Claude to fix it. For example: "Move the PDFs from Misc into Documents." Claude remembers what it did and can correct individual files without re-running the whole organization.

Help me move files that Claude put in the wrong folder

  • Press Esc to dismiss the permission overlay and return to the main input where you can type your next prompt.

Your Downloads folder is organized and you have seen how Claude asks permission before every action. Next up, you will teach Claude your preferences so it remembers how you like things done across every session.

Set Up CLAUDE.md

You just organized a real folder using nothing but plain English prompts. That proves Claude Code works.

But right now, every time you start a new session, Claude forgets everything about you. Your preferences, your naming style, which folders are off-limits. In this step, you will create a CLAUDE.md file that teaches Claude your preferences once so it remembers them automatically in every future session.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Create a CLAUDE.md preferences file using the /init command.
  • Fill it with your personal rules and organization style.
  • Test that Claude remembers your preferences across sessions.
Create your preferences file

Claude Code has a memory system built on a file called CLAUDE.md. This is a plain text file that Claude reads at the start of every session. Whatever instructions you write in it, Claude follows automatically without you needing to repeat yourself.

  • In your terminal (with Claude Code still running), type the following command and press Enter:
/init

What does /init do?

The /init command creates a CLAUDE.md file in the current folder. Claude Code reads this file at the start of every session and treats the contents as persistent instructions.

For personal preferences that apply everywhere, the file lives at ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md (your user-level preferences). For folder-specific preferences, it lives in the folder where you ran the command.

Claude Code will ask you a few questions about how you like to work. Answer them honestly. If you prefer a more guided experience, try this alternative approach instead:

  • Type the following prompt into Claude Code:
Help me create a CLAUDE.md for my personal file management. Ask me questions about my preferences so you can write it for me.

Ask the AI to interview you

When you don't know what you don't know, ask the AI to interview you. Instead of staring at a blank screen trying to think of every preference upfront, you hand that job to Claude.

Use this pattern anytime you need something personalized: writing a resume, configuring a tool, drafting project requirements. Say what you want to end up with and ask Claude to ask you the questions.

  • Review the final CLAUDE.md by asking Claude to display it:
show me the final CLAUDE.md

Make sure it captures your actual preferences and remove anything generic.

Test that your preferences work

The real test is whether Claude remembers your preferences after you reset the conversation. A fresh session forces Claude to re-read CLAUDE.md from scratch.

  • Clear your current conversation by typing this command:
/clear
  • Now ask Claude something about your files without mentioning your preferences. For example:
I want to reorganize my Desktop. What's your plan?
  • Check Claude's response. It should already reflect your preferences (showing a plan first, asking before deleting, using your preferred organization style) without you having to remind it.

What should I see?

Claude's response should show that it already knows your rules. If you said "always show a plan before making changes," Claude should present a plan and ask for approval rather than jumping straight into moving files.

If you said "never touch my Work folder," Claude should either skip that folder or mention it as excluded.

🙋‍♀️ Claude ignored my preferences?

Make sure you ran /init from the same folder where you are now working. Claude Code only reads CLAUDE.md files from the current directory or from ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md (your global user preferences).

Try running /init again from the same folder to regenerate the file. Then run /clear and test again.

Help me figure out why Claude isn't reading my CLAUDE.md preferences

Your CLAUDE.md is set. From now on, every Claude Code session starts with your personal rules already loaded. You have a working AI assistant that knows how you like things done.

Secret mission

Digital Storage Audit

You've organized one folder. But what about the big picture? Build a multi-step audit command that scans multiple folders, finds duplicates, identifies forgotten files, and produces a readable report you can act on every month.

Clean Up Your Resources

Clean Up Your Resources

Decide whether to keep your resources running, pause them to come back later, or delete them entirely. This project uses a Claude Pro subscription at $20/month, so there is an ongoing cost if you keep it active.

Cost warning

Your Claude Pro subscription costs $20/month and will continue billing until you cancel. If you are not planning to use Claude Code regularly, consider pausing or cancelling your subscription to avoid charges.

Resources you used:

  • Claude Pro subscription ($20/month recurring charge).
  • Claude Code installation (binary and config files on your system).
  • CLAUDE.md preferences file (in your home or working folder).
  • Custom commands stored in the .claude/commands/ directory.
  • storage-audit.md report saved to your Desktop.
  • Organized folder (subfolders created by Claude Code during your file organization task).

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you are still actively using Claude Code and plan to keep exploring its capabilities.

  • Your Claude Pro subscription continues at $20/month.
  • Claude Code stays installed and ready to use by typing claude in your terminal.
  • Your CLAUDE.md, custom commands, and organized files all remain in place.
  • Run /project:tidy or /project:audit anytime you want to maintain your files.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Cancel your subscription to stop charges, but keep your local files so you can pick up where you left off if you resubscribe later.

  • Go to claude.ai in your browser.
  • Click your initials or name in the lower-left corner.
  • Select Settings from the menu.
  • Click Billing, then click Cancel.
  • Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing period.
  • Your CLAUDE.md, custom commands, and organized files stay on your computer and will work again if you resubscribe.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove all project resources and cancel your subscription to start completely fresh.

  • Cancel your Claude Pro subscription first.
  • Go to claude.ai in your browser.
  • Click your initials or name in the lower-left corner.
  • Select Settings from the menu.
  • Click Billing, then click Cancel.

Remove the storage audit report from your Desktop by running the command for your operating system:

macOS

rm ~/Desktop/storage-audit.md

Windows

Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\storage-audit.md" -Force

Remove the Claude Code binary and version files:

macOS

rm -f ~/.local/bin/claude
rm -rf ~/.local/share/claude

Windows

Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin\claude.exe" -Force
Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\share\claude" -Recurse -Force

Remove user settings, session history, and custom commands:

macOS

# Remove user settings and state
rm -rf ~/.claude
rm ~/.claude.json

# Remove project-specific settings (run from your working directory)
rm -rf .claude
rm -f .mcp.json

Windows

# Remove user settings and state
Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude" -Recurse -Force
Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude.json" -Force

# Remove project-specific settings (run from your working directory)
Remove-Item -Path ".claude" -Recurse -Force
Remove-Item -Path ".mcp.json" -Force

Remove the CLAUDE.md file from wherever you created it:

macOS

rm ~/CLAUDE.md

Windows

Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\CLAUDE.md" -Force

What about your organized folder?

The folder you reorganized during this project still contains your personal files. Claude Code moved them into subfolders but did not delete anything. Review those subfolders and keep or rearrange the files as you see fit.

That's a Wrap!

That's a Wrap!

You've gone from never having opened a terminal to having an AI-powered personal assistant at your fingertips!

You've learned how to:

  • Installed and authenticated Claude Code on your system, and learned Plan Mode for safe exploration and Normal Mode for supervised actions.
  • Mastered three prompting patterns that work for any task: specificity with variables, plan-before-action, and building on results.
  • Created a CLAUDE.md memory file for persistent preferences and built reusable custom commands for ongoing file maintenance.
  • Built a comprehensive storage audit command that finds duplicates, large forgotten files, and wasted space across multiple folders.

Ready to quiz yourself?