command not found: claude

Quick answer. zsh: command not found: claude means the directory holding the claude binary isn't on your PATH. The fastest fix is to reinstall with Homebrew so claude lands on a PATH Homebrew manages: brew install --cask claude-code@latest. For a native install, add ~/.local/bin to your PATH instead (below). The simplest way to avoid "command not found" problems entirely is the free app Set Up Your Mac for Claude Code, which installs Claude Code on a managed PATH and verifies the claude command works. ✓ Every command verified on macOS 26.5, 2026-06-26, arm64.

Download the app "Set Up Your Mac for Claude Code"

This page covers Claude Code, the command-line coding tool you run with the claude command. For the graphical Claude Desktop app, see Claude Code vs Claude Desktop.

This page edits a shell profile. Changing your PATH means editing a shell startup file. If your Mac isn't set up for development, see Prerequisites for Claude Code, or let the app above install Claude Code and set the PATH for you.

zsh: command not found: claude

This error means none of the directories on your PATH holds the claude binary. Which directory is missing depends on how you installed Claude Code: a Homebrew install puts claude on a PATH Homebrew manages, and the native installer puts it in ~/.local/bin.

A new shell only picks up a PATH change after it starts, so first rule out a stale shell — open a new terminal window and run:

claude --version

If a version prints, the install was fine and the old shell hadn't reloaded PATH. If it still says command not found, fix the PATH.

Homebrew install (recommended): reinstalling with Homebrew puts claude on a PATH Homebrew already manages, so this is the fastest fix:

brew install --cask claude-code@latest

Open a new terminal afterward, then run claude --version. See Brew Install Claude Code for the cask details.

Native install: the native installer puts claude in ~/.local/bin. Check whether that directory is on your PATH (no output means it's missing):

echo $PATH | tr ':' '\n' | grep -Fx "$HOME/.local/bin"

If it's missing, add it to ~/.zprofile — the login-shell profile, not ~/.zshrc:

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zprofile

Reload the profile and verify:

source ~/.zprofile

claude --version

A version string means claude is on your PATH.

The version is wrong, not missing

If claude --version runs but reports the wrong version, your PATH is fine — you have conflicting installs, and the shell is launching an old copy first. List every claude on PATH:

which -a claude

More than one line means a conflict. Update Claude Code walks through removing all but one.

Download the app "Set Up Your Mac for Claude Code"

Sources

• Troubleshoot installation — https://code.claude.com/docs/en/troubleshoot-install
• Claude Code setup — https://code.claude.com/docs/en/setup