How to Update Claude Code

To update Claude Code, run claude update in your terminal for a self-updating installation, then start Claude Code again. If you installed it through a package manager, use that package manager’s update command. Claude Desktop and IDE extensions have separate update controls.

Update the native terminal installation

If you use a native installation on macOS, Linux, Windows, or WSL, Claude Code downloads updates automatically during normal use. Restart Claude Code to use a downloaded update. To check for an update immediately, open your terminal and run:

claude update

Start Claude Code again after the update finishes. To inspect the installed version, run:

claude --version

Update through Homebrew or WinGet

On macOS, update your Homebrew installation using the command for its cask. The claude-code cask tracks stable, so update it with:

brew upgrade claude-code

If you installed the latest-channel cask, its name includes @latest. Update that installation with:

brew upgrade claude-code@latest

For a Windows CLI installation made through WinGet, open a Windows terminal. Run its package upgrade command:

winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode

Keep using the command that matches your installation. The stable channel and package repositories can trail the latest release, so the version they offer may be older than the newest release.

Update Linux packages or an npm installation

On Debian or Ubuntu, use apt if you installed Claude Code with Anthropic’s repository configured. Refresh the package information and upgrade Claude Code with:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade claude-code

On Fedora or RHEL, use dnf for a Claude Code installation with Anthropic’s repository configured. Upgrade the package with:

sudo dnf upgrade claude-code

On Alpine, use apk when Anthropic’s repository is configured. Run this command with administrative privileges:

apk update && apk upgrade claude-code

If you installed Claude Code globally through npm, you need Node.js 22 or newer for the current installer. Update the global package with:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest

Use that command instead of the older npm update -g instruction, which may retain an earlier version. After updating, inspect your installed version with:

claude --version

Choose your automatic update channel

For a self-updating CLI, you can choose the latest or stable channel inside Claude Code. Open its configuration by entering:

/config

Find Auto-update channel, then choose latest or stable. Stable can trail the latest release. For a package-managed installation, your cask or repository determines the channel instead.

If automatic updates have stopped, check ~/.claude/settings.json and your shell configuration for DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER. Removing this variable removes its automatic-update block; remove it wherever present in those locations, then relaunch Claude Code. Also check for CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC, which disables automatic updates along with other network activity.

Update Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop maintains its own Claude Code copy independently of your terminal installation. On macOS and Windows, launch Desktop while connected to the internet so it can check for updates. The app can restart to apply downloaded updates unless organizational policy disables updating.

To check manually on macOS, open Claude > Check for Updates…. On Windows, open Help > Check for Updates…. After updating, start a new Code session and inspect its Claude Code version by entering:

/status

If Check for Updates… is hidden on a managed macOS or Windows installation, ask IT to deploy the newer Desktop version. Your organization can control Desktop updates through its device policies.

If you obtained Claude Desktop through its official Microsoft Store listing, open Microsoft Store and select Check for Updates. Store app updates also run automatically unless paused. This updates the Store application; your separately installed terminal CLI uses its own update method.

The Claude Desktop Linux beta supports Ubuntu 22.04 or newer and Debian 12 or newer on x86_64 and arm64. If Anthropic’s apt repository is registered, use your distribution’s graphical software updater or the command below. This command also updates other system packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

If your Linux Desktop installation has no registered update repository, follow the Linux Desktop download instructions under Install from a downloaded file to fetch the newest .deb for your architecture. This also applies if you installed with CLAUDE_DESKTOP_ADD_REPO="false". Open the downloaded package in GNOME Software, or run this command from its download directory:

sudo apt install ./claude-desktop_*.deb

Update the VS Code extension

In Microsoft VS Code, open Extensions and choose Check for Extension Updates from its menu. Find Claude Code, select Update, then select Restart Extensions. Choose Update All Extensions if you also want to update every other outdated extension.

To enable automatic updates for the enabled Claude Code extension, right-click Claude Code in Extensions and enable Auto Update. After an update installs, select Restart Extensions. On a managed installation, organizational policies can control automatic updating and its delay.

Update the JetBrains plugin and terminal command

The JetBrains plugin launches your installed Claude Code CLI, so update both components. These menu paths match IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2 and apply to compatible JetBrains IDEs with the same controls.

Open Settings > Plugins > Installed, select Claude Code, and click Update. If you need to check for updates first, open Settings > Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Updates and select Check for Updates.

For automatic plugin updates, open Settings > Plugins, click the Settings gear, and select Update Plugins Automatically. Alternatively, open Settings > Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Updates and select Update plugins automatically. Restart the IDE to apply downloaded updates.

Update the separate claude command using the native, Homebrew, WinGet, npm, or Linux package-manager method that matches its installation. Then restart the Claude Code terminal session.

Fix blocked or unsuccessful terminal updates

On an organization-managed installation, DISABLE_UPDATES=1 blocks automatic updates and the manual commands claude update and claude install. A managed version ceiling can also prevent a newer update. Ask IT for an approved update when your organization controls the installed version.

If an older native CLI cannot run its updater successfully, rerun the native installer for your platform. Reinstalling makes the newly installed version the one claude runs; on macOS, Linux, or WSL, the launcher points to it and earlier versions can remain on disk. On macOS, Linux, or WSL, run:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

On Windows, rerun the PowerShell installer to replace the existing Claude Code binary. Open PowerShell and run:

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

After the installer finishes, inspect the installed version with the command below. If launching Claude Code still starts an older copy, another installation may be taking precedence.

claude --version

Uninstalling removes the selected Claude Code installation. Identify the updated copy you intend to keep, then remove only the unwanted installation. For an unwanted global npm copy, run:

npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

The Homebrew command below removes the selected Claude Code cask installation. Use it only for an unwanted copy, substituting claude-code@latest if that is the cask you need to remove:

brew uninstall --cask claude-code

The WinGet command below removes the Claude Code installation managed by WinGet. Use it only when that is the unwanted copy, keeping your intended updated installation:

winget uninstall Anthropic.ClaudeCode

Keep your configuration and session-history directories when performing an ordinary update. Deleting those directories is unnecessary for updating Claude Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Homebrew and WinGet installations update automatically?

Yes, set CLAUDE_CODE_PACKAGE_MANAGER_AUTO_UPDATE=1 in the environment before launching Claude Code to opt in. On Windows, executable locking can still require a manual update.

Can you install a specific Claude Code version?

Yes, if your current CLI has the install command available. It installs the requested version as your native installation; on macOS and Linux, earlier versions can remain on disk. Run claude install <version>, replacing <version> with the release number you want, or use claude install latest or claude install stable.

Can you update the VS Code extension from a downloaded file?

Yes, obtain an official compatible Claude Code VSIX package, then open the Command Palette, choose Extensions: Install from VSIX, and select the file. Alternatively, run code --install-extension <path-to-file.vsix>, replacing the placeholder with the package’s path. VSIX installations default to automatic updates disabled.

Can you install a downloaded JetBrains plugin update?

Yes, download a compatible Claude Code plugin archive from JetBrains Marketplace. Open Settings > Plugins, click the Settings gear, and select Install Plugin from Disk. Choose the ZIP or JAR and click OK, then click OK to apply and restart if prompted.

How do you turn off automatic CLI updates?

For a CLI installation with self-updating enabled, merge {"env":{"DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER":"1"}} into ~/.claude/settings.json, preserving your other settings. This disables automatic updates.

Which VS Code controls affect automatic extension updates?

Alongside the per-extension control, VS Code provides Enable Auto Update for Extensions and the settings extensions.autoUpdate, extensions.autoCheckUpdates, and extensions.autoUpdateDelay. These control automatic updating, update checks, and the delay before updates install.