Claude Code installation failed:

Error: Cannot find module '@anthropic-ai/claude-code'

Or npm errors during install. Here is how to fix it.

Fix 1: Check Node.js version

Claude Code requires Node.js 18+:

# Check version
node --version

# If below 18, install newer version
# Using nvm (recommended)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
nvm install 20
nvm use 20

Fix 2: Fix npm permissions

Avoid using sudo with npm:

# Fix npm global permissions
mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

# Now install without sudo
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Fix 3: Clear npm cache

Corrupted cache causes installation failures:

# Clear npm cache
npm cache clean --force

# Reinstall
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Fix 4: Use npx instead of global install

Skip global installation:

# Run directly with npx
npx @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Or install locally
npm install @anthropic-ai/claude-code
npx claude

Fix 5: Fix network issues

If installation hangs or fails:

# Use different registry
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code --registry https://registry.npmjs.org/

# Or set timeout
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code --timeout=60000

Fix 6: Check disk space

# Check available space
df -h

# npm needs space in ~/.npm
du -sh ~/.npm

Fix 7: Use a version manager

Avoid system Node.js:

# Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash

# Install Node.js
nvm install 20
nvm alias default 20

# Install Claude Code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Still not working?

1. Check npm logs — ~/.npm/_logs/
2. Try yarn — yarn global add @anthropic-ai/claude-code
3. Use Docker — Pre-configured Node.js environment
4. Check firewall — npm registry may be blocked

FAQ

What Node.js version do I need?

Claude Code requires Node.js 18 or higher. Node.js 20 is recommended. Check your version with node --version and update if needed.

Can I install Claude Code without npm?

Yes. You can use npx to run it without global installation: npx @anthropic-ai/claude-code. You can also use yarn or pnpm instead of npm.

Why does npm install fail with permission errors?

This usually happens when npm tries to write to system directories. Use a version manager like nvm to install Node.js in your home directory, which avoids permission issues entirely.

Related: Claude Code Complete Guide · How to Use Claude Code · Claude Code Permission Denied Fix · Claude Code API Rate Limit Fix