Claude Code System Requirements for Windows and Beyond

Before you commit a team rollout, align laptops with realistic Claude Code system requirements. The agent is cloud-backed, but local CPU, RAM, disk, and network still shape responsiveness — especially when indexing large repos.

Windows

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (22H2+) or Windows 11.
• RAM: 8 GB minimum; 16 GB+ recommended for big monorepos.
• Disk: 1 GB free for app + caches; SSD strongly preferred.
• Network: Stable broadband; corporate proxies must allow HTTPS to Anthropic.

macOS and Linux

Supported on recent macOS and mainstream Linux distros. CLI users should keep git, Node, or other toolchain deps current as documented on the product page.

Why specs matter

Models run remotely, yet local indexing, file watchers, and parallel test runs consume RAM and IO. Underpowered machines feel "slow" even with fast internet.

Virtual machines and VDI

VDI often blocks local agents or breaks OAuth. Test login, browser handoff, and git performance early. Remote SSH development may be smoother than graphical VDI.

Checklist for IT

1. Allowlist required domains and CDNs.
2. Confirm install permissions and code signing trust.
3. Pilot on 3 — representative developer machines.

Ready to install? Start at the download page.