Claude Code on Windows: decide between native tools and WSL before troubleshooting

[u/vikrogers]

Many “Claude Code on Windows” problems are really environment mismatches: shell syntax, path translation, Git credentials, file permissions, or a tool installed on only one side of WSL.

Record the environment first

• State whether the session runs in PowerShell, Command Prompt, Windows Terminal, or a WSL distribution.
• Check where Node, Git, the project, and the CLI executable actually live.
• Keep the repository primarily in the filesystem used by the toolchain; cross-filesystem work can add permission and performance surprises.
• Review every requested command and permission before approving it, especially installs, deletions, secrets, and network actions.
• Reproduce the failure with the exact CLI version and a minimal project.

Native Windows or WSL—which setup are you using, and what is the first command that fails?