Creating Your Account & Initial Setup

"Is signing up for Claude complicated?" "Do I have to pay?"

No worries. Claude is free to start, and registration takes less than 5 minutes with just an email address. This page walks you through account creation and initial setup, one step at a time.

Before You Start

Let's make sure you have everything you need.

What You Need

Supported Devices

About pricing: Claude has a free plan (Free) — no credit card required. The free plan includes all basic chat features. You can consider upgrading to a paid plan whenever you want more. See "Claude Pricing Plans Compared" for details.

Creating Your Account

Go to claude.ai. You can create an account in three ways. If you have a Google account, that's the easiest and recommended method.

Option 1: Sign Up with Google (Easiest — Recommended)

1. Click the "Continue with Google" button
2. Select your Google account when prompted
3. Review and accept Claude's terms of service and privacy policy
4. Enter your name (a nickname is fine)
5. Enter your phone number for SMS verification
6. Enter the 6-digit verification code sent via SMS
7. Done! The Claude home screen appears

Troubleshooting: If the Google account selection screen doesn't work, try restarting your browser. If you're using a private/incognito window, try a regular window instead.

Option 2: Sign Up with Apple

If you have an Apple ID, click "Continue with Apple" to register. Authentication via Face ID or passcode makes it very quick.

Note: Apple sign-up works most reliably from Safari on iOS/macOS or the Claude mobile app. It may not appear in other browsers.

Option 3: Sign Up with Email

1. Enter your email address in the input field
2. Click "Continue with email"
3. Check your inbox for a verification email and enter the code
4. Enter the 6-digit verification code
5. Enter your phone number for SMS verification
6. Enter the SMS verification code
7. Enter your name and you're done

Troubleshooting: If the verification email doesn't arrive, check your spam folder first. If it's still not there, double-check your email address for typos and try again.

Logging In and the Home Screen

After registration, you'll see Claude's home screen (chat interface).

Here's what each part of the screen does:

Left Sidebar

• New chat — Click to start a new conversation
• Chat history — Your past conversations listed here. Click any to reopen it
• Projects — A place to save frequently used files and settings (you can set this up later)

Main Area (Center)

• Text input field — Type your questions or requests here. Press Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line
• Attachment icon — Attach PDFs, text files, images, and more
• Model selector — Choose which AI model to use. The default is fine for most tasks

Tip: Not sure which model to pick? Just leave it on the default (Claude Sonnet). You can change it later when needed.

Essential First Settings

Before diving in, check a few settings. Open the settings page by clicking your profile icon (top right or bottom left) → "Settings."

1. Language

Claude responds in whatever language you write in. If the interface is in a language you don't prefer, you can change it in Settings → "Language."

2. Memory

Memory lets Claude remember your preferences, name, and frequently used terms across conversations. This saves you from repeating context every time.

To check:

1. Open Settings
2. Click the "Features" tab
3. Make sure "Memory" is toggled on

Memory is available on all plans, including Free.

Tip: If you'd rather Claude not remember anything about you, you can turn Memory off. Claude still works fine — you'll just need to provide context each time. Note that deleting chat history doesn't delete memories. To clear memories, go to Settings → Features → Memory → "Delete all memories."

3. Artifacts

Artifacts lets Claude create live-preview documents and code right alongside your conversation. Ask Claude to "format these meeting notes," and a polished document appears that you can copy or download.

To check:

1. Open Settings → "Features" tab
2. Make sure "Artifacts" is toggled on

This is usually on by default, but worth confirming.

4. Data Privacy Settings (Optional)

Under Settings → "Privacy," you can toggle off "Help improve Claude." When disabled, your chat content won't be used for AI training.

If you plan to input sensitive work information, we recommend turning this off.

Installing the Mobile App (Optional)

If you want to use Claude on your phone, install the dedicated app. The browser works too, but the app is smoother and supports voice input.

iPhone / iPad

1. Open the App Store
2. Search for "Claude"
3. Install the app by Anthropic
4. Open it and log in with the account you just created

Android

1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Search for "Claude"
3. Install the app by Anthropic
4. Open it and log in with your account

Note: Since you log in with the same account, your chat history syncs between phone and PC. You can continue the same conversation on any device.

Common Issues and Solutions

Verification email not arriving

1. Check your spam folder — it often gets filtered there
2. Wait a few minutes — delivery can be delayed
3. Check for typos in your email address and try again
4. If using a work email, the security filter may be blocking it. Try a personal email address instead

SMS verification code not arriving

1. Make sure you've selected the correct country code
2. Enter your full phone number including the leading digits
3. Wait a few minutes — SMS delivery can be delayed
4. If reception is poor, try from a different location or Wi-Fi

Can't log in

• If you've forgotten your password, use "Forgot your password?" on the login screen
• If you have multiple email addresses, check which one you registered with
• If you signed up with Google, use the "Continue with Google" button — not email/password

VPN issues

If you're using a VPN, regional restrictions may block Claude. Try disconnecting the VPN.

"Not available in your region" message

Claude is available in most countries. If you're traveling, some regions may have restrictions. Check local availability and terms.

Next Steps

Your account is ready — let's start chatting with Claude!

Ready to try your first conversation?

• Your First Chat with Claude — Learn how to send messages and get the most from conversations

Want to compare pricing plans?

• Claude Pricing Plans Compared — Free vs Pro vs Team breakdown

Want to see the big picture?

• What Is Claude? — Not sure which product to use? Start here