Set Up Claude Code and Choose a Folder

Questions

• How do I set up Claude Code on my computer?
• How do I point Claude Code at the right folder to work in?
• How do I start Claude Code on a Mac? How about on Windows 11?
• What is a working directory, and how do I choose it?
• Do I need to know how to code to use it?
• How do I confirm I am signed in to my Bowdoin account?
• How do I stop or exit Claude Code?

Environment

This article is for Bowdoin community members who have access to Claude Code and want to get it running in the right folder. Claude Code runs in a terminal, but you do not need programming experience to follow these steps.

• Who: Students, faculty, and staff granted access to the Claude tools.
• What: Claude Code running locally on a current version of macOS or on Windows 11, signed in to a Bowdoin account.
• Not in scope: Requesting access, which is covered in Getting access to Claude in the Related Articles section.

Resolution

Step 1 — Install Claude Code

Installation steps change over time, so use Anthropic's current instructions rather than a fixed command.

1. Go to the Claude Code documentation and follow the install steps for your operating system.
2. Follow the prompts. When installation finishes, you can type claude in your terminal.

Step 2 — Choose the folder you want to work in

Claude Code works inside whatever folder you launch it from, which is called the working directory. Claude Code can change files there and in its subfolders, but not in folders above it without asking. So the first real step is to move into the right folder before you start. A good habit is to make a dedicated folder first, for example Claude Projects inside your Documents, with one subfolder per project. Keeping this folder in your Documents folder means it also backs up to OneDrive automatically on most Bowdoin computers. For the recommended layout, see Organize Your Folders for Claude: Best Practices in the Related Articles section.

On a Mac

1. Open Terminal (find it with Command + Space, type Terminal, and press Return).
2. Type cd followed by a space, then drag your project folder from Finder onto the Terminal window and press Return. This moves you into that folder.

On Windows 11

1. Open your project folder in File Explorer.
2. Select the address bar at the top, type powershell, and press Enter. A PowerShell window opens already pointed at that folder.

Step 3 — Start Claude Code and sign in

1. In the terminal window, now inside your project folder, type claude and press Return or Enter.
2. The first time, Claude Code guides you through signing in. Choose to sign in and complete the Bowdoin SSO (Okta) login in the browser window that opens.
3. Confirm you are in the Bowdoin workspace when prompted.

Step 4 — Confirm the trust prompt

Step 5 — Give it a task

1. Type what you want in plain language, for example Summarize the notes in this folder into one document.
2. Claude Code looks at your files, since reading is allowed by default, and proposes actions.
3. When Claude Code wants to change a file or run a command, it asks first. Read the request, then choose Allow once or allow it going forward. If you do not recognize a command, deny it and ask Claude to explain.

Step 6 — Exit when you are done

To stop Claude Code, type /exit and press Return or Enter, or close the terminal window. Nothing keeps running in the background on your machine afterward.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

• Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
• Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
• In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
• Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

• Anthropic: Claude Code documentation