Everything in this course happens in Claude, so it needs to be ready before lesson 1.1. You don't need anything technical, and you can start free.

What you need

A computer (Mac, Windows, or Ubuntu/Debian Linux) or a phone. A computer is better for the course.
An email address, or a Google account to sign in with.
A mobile number that can receive a text message. Internet-only numbers (VoIP, Google Voice, app numbers) and landlines aren't accepted.
To be 18 or over, and in a country where Claude is available. Australia is.

1. Create your account (5 min)

Go to claude.ai and choose to sign up.
Sign up with your email address (you'll get a link to confirm it) or with your Google account.
Enter your mobile number. A six-digit code arrives by text; type it in and choose "Verify code".
You're in. You'll land on an empty chat.

2. Choose a plan (2 min)

Start on Free. It's enough for Part 01. When you get to Part 02, upgrade to Pro (US$20 a month, or US$17 a month paid yearly; local price and GST may differ). That's the plan that adds Projects, Claude Code and much more usage. Lesson 1.2 covers the plans properly. You can upgrade from inside the app at any time.

3. Install the apps (5 min)

The website works, but the apps are better, and the computer app is needed later for letting Claude work on files in your folders (lesson 2.2).

Device	Where to get it	Notes
Mac	claude.com/download	One download for Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Open the file and drag Claude into Applications
Windows	claude.com/download	Pick x64 for most PCs, or ARM64 if your PC has an ARM (Snapdragon) chip
Linux	claude.com/download	Beta, Ubuntu and Debian
iPhone, iPad	App Store	Search "Claude", published by Anthropic
Android	Google Play	Search "Claude", published by Anthropic

Sign in to each with the same account. Your chats follow you between them.

Only download from claude.com, the App Store or Google Play. There are fake "Claude" apps and sites around. The real ones are published by Anthropic.

4. Check one privacy setting (2 min)

In the app's settings, find the privacy section and the choice about whether your chats can be used to improve future models. Decide on it now, before you paste anything real. Lesson 1.3 explains what it means; if you'll use Claude for customer or client work, most people switch it off.

5. Run your first chat (5 min)

Copy the prompt below into a new chat and send it. If you get a sensible answer back that's specific to your work, you're set up. If something didn't work, check the troubleshooting list at the end of this lesson.

Later: Claude Code

Lesson 3.6 uses Claude Code for building software. It needs a paid plan and is built into the computer app. If you'd rather use it in a terminal, the install commands are on Anthropic's setup page. On a Mac it's one line pasted into Terminal:

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

On Windows, the PowerShell version is irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex. Then type claude and sign in when your browser opens. You don't need any of this until Part 03.

If something goes wrong

The text code never arrives: check it's a normal mobile number, not an internet or app number, and wait a minute before asking for a new one.
"Not available in your region": Claude only works in supported countries, and you need to be physically there.
Can't find the app in the store: check the publisher is Anthropic. Don't install look-alikes.
Anything else: support.claude.com has the official answers.