# Install coding agents on Windows: Claude Code, Codex

URL: https://agentvera.dev/en/blog/install-coding-agents-on-windows/ · Published: 2026-11-01

Windows install commands for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Copilot CLI, Cursor and 9 more agents, plus PowerShell, winget, npm, Node.js, PATH and common errors.

**In short:**

- Claude Code, Cursor CLI, Kiro and Droid install with a one-line PowerShell script; Codex, Gemini CLI, Copilot CLI, Qwen Code and Cline install with npm.
- Agents installed with npm need Node.js 20 or later; open a new terminal after installing so PATH picks up the change.
- Claude Code now works without Git for Windows; if Git Bash isn’t there, it runs shell commands through PowerShell.

A year ago, the shortcut to installing a coding agent on Windows was “install WSL first”. Today most major agents install natively in PowerShell. But each has its own install path: some want a one-line script, some npm, some winget or scoop.

This post puts them all in one place. The commands come from each agent’s own docs as of November 2026; if something doesn’t work, check the agent’s docs first, because install paths change often.

## Before you start

**Node.js 20 or later.** Codex, Gemini CLI, Copilot CLI, Qwen Code and Cline ship as npm packages.

```powershell
winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS
node -v
```

**Git for Windows.** Most agents work with git, and Claude Code uses Git Bash for shell commands when it’s present. It’s no longer required, but installing it makes life easier.

```powershell
winget install Git.Git
```

**Windows Terminal and PowerShell 7.** Not required, but Copilot CLI wants PowerShell 6 or later, and colors and Unicode render better in the newer terminal.

```powershell
winget install Microsoft.PowerShell
```

## Install commands

| Agent | Windows install command |
|---|---|
| Claude Code | `irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 \| iex` |
| Codex | `npm i -g @openai/codex` |
| Gemini CLI | `npm i -g @google/gemini-cli` |
| Copilot CLI | `npm i -g @github/copilot` |
| Cursor CLI | `irm 'https://cursor.com/install?win32=true' \| iex` |
| opencode | `scoop install opencode` |
| Qwen Code | `npm i -g @qwen-code/qwen-code` |
| Kiro CLI | `irm 'https://cli.kiro.dev/install.ps1' \| iex` |
| Droid | `irm https://app.factory.ai/cli/windows \| iex` |
| Kimi Code | `irm https://code.kimi.com/kimi-code/install.ps1 \| iex` |
| Crush | `winget install charmbracelet.crush` |
| Aider | `powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://aider.chat/install.ps1 \| iex"` |
| Cline CLI | `npm i -g cline` |
| Mistral Vibe | `uv tool install mistral-vibe` |

After installing, **open a new terminal**. If the installer changed PATH, terminals that were already open won’t see it.

## Notes, agent by agent

### Claude Code

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

Runs on Windows 10 1809 or later. If you use CMD, use the CMD command from the official docs; winget (`winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode`) and npm are options too. With Git for Windows installed, shell commands run in Git Bash; without it, in PowerShell. To point Claude at a specific Git Bash, set the `CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH` environment variable. Claude Code’s sandbox isn’t available on native Windows; it is in WSL 2. More: [how to use Claude Code](/en/blog/how-to-use-claude-code/).

### Codex

```powershell
npm i -g @openai/codex
codex
```

On first launch it asks you to sign in with your ChatGPT account. Codex runs natively on Windows with its own sandbox. More: [how to use Codex CLI](/en/blog/how-to-use-codex-cli/).

### Gemini CLI

```powershell
npm i -g @google/gemini-cli
gemini
```

Signing in with a Google account comes with a free quota. More: [how to use Gemini CLI](/en/blog/how-to-use-gemini-cli/).

### Copilot CLI

```powershell
npm i -g @github/copilot
copilot
```

You can also install it with winget. It needs a GitHub Copilot subscription and PowerShell 6 or later.

### Cursor CLI

```powershell
irm 'https://cursor.com/install?win32=true' | iex
```

The command is `agent` (`cursor-agent` in older versions). You sign in with your Cursor account.

### opencode

```powershell
scoop install opencode
```

choco and npm are options too. Its docs recommend WSL for the best experience, but it also runs on native Windows.

### The rest

- **Qwen Code** and **Cline** install with npm.
- **Kiro CLI** is supported on Windows 11 only.
- **Droid** (Factory) and **Kimi Code** install with a PowerShell script. The old Kimi CLI has been archived and replaced by Kimi Code.
- **Crush** installs with winget, **Mistral Vibe** with uv.
- **Amp**’s official docs say WSL for Windows.

## Common install errors

**“is not recognized”.** Open a new terminal. If it’s still missing, look for it with `where claude` or `where codex`; if you installed with npm, make sure the `npm prefix -g` folder is on PATH.

**“running scripts is disabled on this system”.** The `.ps1` shims npm installs can be blocked by PowerShell’s execution policy. Either allow scripts for your own user only:

```powershell
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned
```

or call the command with its `.cmd` extension, such as `claude.cmd` or `codex.cmd`.

**Non-ASCII characters or emoji look garbled.** The legacy console code page isn’t UTF-8. Use Windows Terminal, or switch to UTF-8 with `chcp 65001`.

**`irm ... | iex` fails on a corporate network.** A proxy or security software may be blocking the script. Try the winget or npm route.

**Long path errors.** Deep `node_modules` folders can hit the 260-character limit. Set `git config --global core.longpaths true` and keep projects under a short root such as `C:\src`.

## After installing: running them all together

Once you’ve installed more than one agent, following them in separate terminal windows gets tiring fast. AgentVera is a desktop app that runs natively on Windows: it finds the agents you’ve installed on its own, shows a Windows install hint next to the ones you haven’t, and opens them side by side in a [grid](/en/features/workspace/) per project.

Because it unwraps the `.cmd` shims npm installs and starts the script inside directly, `cmd.exe`’s argument parsing doesn’t mangle roles and JSON settings that contain `&` or `%`.

For running several agents in parallel, see [managing coding agents on Windows](/en/blog/coding-agents-on-windows/); for whether to move to WSL, [WSL vs native Windows](/en/blog/wsl-vs-native-windows-coding-agents/); and for the full summary, the [Windows page](/en/windows/).

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I install Codex on Windows?** Install Node.js 20 or later, then run npm i -g @openai/codex in PowerShell. On first launch, the codex command asks you to sign in with your ChatGPT account. Codex runs natively on Windows with its own sandbox; no WSL needed.

**How do I install Claude Code on Windows?** Run irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex in PowerShell. Installing with winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode or npm works too. It needs Windows 10 1809 or later.

**Does Claude Code require Git for Windows?** Not anymore. If Git for Windows is installed, Claude Code uses Git Bash for shell commands; if not, it uses PowerShell. If your project uses git, installing it is still a good idea.

**What do I do if the command isn’t recognized after installing?** Open a new terminal; terminals that were already open don’t see PATH changes made by the installer. where claude or where codex shows where the command is found. If you installed with npm, make sure the npm prefix -g folder is on PATH.

**PowerShell won’t let me run scripts. What should I do?** The .ps1 shims npm installs can be blocked by the execution policy. Allow local scripts for your own user only with Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned, or call the command with its .cmd extension, such as claude.cmd.

---

**About AgentVera.** AgentVera is a desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux, built by Solviera Teknoloji. It runs 18 AI coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Copilot, Cursor, Antigravity, opencode, Hermes, Qwen Code, Kimi Code, Kiro, Amp, Droid, Goose, Vibe, Crush, Aider, Cline) side by side, per project, in real terminals with the user's own CLI installs and logins. The free plan has unlimited agents. Download: https://agentvera.dev/en/download/ · Pricing: https://agentvera.dev/en/pricing/