Claude Code cheatsheet

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash  # native install
brew install --cask claude-code                 # Homebrew (macOS)
mise use -g claude                              # mise.jdx.dev
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code        # npm (deprecated)

On Windows: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex in PowerShell, or winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode.

claude              # first run opens a browser login
claude auth login   # sign in again
claude auth status  # show the current account

Claude Code needs a Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan, a Console account, or a cloud provider (Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Foundry). ANTHROPIC_API_KEY also works.

claude                        # start interactive session
claude "explain this repo"    # start with a prompt
claude -p "summarize README"  # print mode: answer and exit
git diff | claude -p "review this diff"

Use claude -c to continue the last conversation, or claude -r "auth-refactor" to resume one by name. See: Quickstart

Sessions

Command	Description
claude	Start interactive session
claude "query"	Start with an initial prompt
claude -p "query"	Print response and exit
claude -c	Continue most recent conversation
claude -r <session>	Resume a session by ID or name

Setup

Command	Description
claude update	Update to latest version
claude doctor	Check install and settings
claude mcp	Configure MCP servers
claude auth status	Show authentication status
claude setup-token	Generate a token for CI

Flag	Description
-p, --print	Print response and exit
-c, --continue	Continue most recent conversation
-r, --resume	Resume a session by ID or name
--model sonnet	Choose the model
--effort high	Set reasoning effort
--permission-mode plan	Start in a permission mode
--add-dir ../lib	Add extra working directories
--verbose	Show full turn-by-turn output

Flag	Description
--debug	Enable debug mode
--settings file.json	Load settings for this session
--ide	Auto-connect to your IDE
-w, --worktree	Start in an isolated git worktree
--dangerously-skip-permissions	Skip all permission prompts

Conversation

Command	Description
/help	Show available commands
/clear	Start a new conversation
/compact	Summarize to free up context
/context	Show context window usage

History

Command	Description
/resume	Resume a previous conversation
/rewind	Restore code and conversation
/export	Export the conversation as text

Usage

Command	Description
/status	Show version, model, and account
/usage	Show cost and plan limits

Settings

Command	Description
/config	Open settings or set a value
/model	Switch the AI model
/effort	Set reasoning effort
/memory	Edit memory files

Project

Command	Description
/init	Generate a starter CLAUDE.md
/permissions	Manage permission rules
/mcp	Manage MCP connections
/doctor	Run a setup checkup

Account

Command	Description
/login	Sign in to your account
/logout	Sign out

Changes

Command	Description
/diff	Review working-tree changes
/review	Review changes or a pull request

Security

Command	Description
/security-review	Scan changes for vulnerabilities

Session

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl+C	Interrupt, or clear the input
Ctrl+D	Exit Claude Code
Esc	Interrupt Claude, or close dialogs
Esc Esc	Clear the draft, or rewind
Ctrl+B	Background running tasks

Prompt

Shortcut	Description
Shift+Tab	Cycle permission modes
Alt+P	Switch model
Alt+T	Toggle extended thinking
Ctrl+V	Paste an image from the clipboard

Display

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl+L	Redraw the screen
Ctrl+R	Search prompt history
Ctrl+O	Toggle the transcript viewer

On macOS, use Option instead of Alt.

Input	Effect
/	Slash commands and skills
!	Run a shell command directly
@	Mention a file path
:	Insert an emoji by shortcode
?	Show the shortcut help panel

For a newline without sending, press \ + Enter or Ctrl+J — both work in any terminal. Shift+Enter works in many terminals; run /terminal-setup if it doesn't.

~/.claude/settings.json      # user settings
.claude/settings.json        # project settings, committed
.claude/settings.local.json  # personal project settings

Run /config to edit settings, or pass --settings file.json for one session. See: Settings

Variable	Purpose
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY	API key used instead of a subscription
ANTHROPIC_MODEL	Default model name
ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL	Route requests through a gateway
API_TIMEOUT_MS	API timeout (default 600000)
BASH_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS	Bash tool timeout (default 120000)
CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_AUTO_MEMORY	Turn auto memory off
DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER	Turn background updates off

Settings files can also set env vars under an env key. See: Environment variables

CLAUDE.md             # project instructions, committed
CLAUDE.local.md       # personal project notes, not committed
~/.claude/CLAUDE.md   # instructions for all your projects

/init generates a project CLAUDE.md; /memory edits memory files and auto memory. Import files with @path/to/file.md. See: Memory

git diff | claude -p "review this diff for bugs"
claude -p "check src/ for security issues"

Inside a session, /review reviews the current diff and /security-review scans it for vulnerabilities.

# One-shot JSON output for scripts
claude -p "list the failing tests" --output-format json

# Pipe logs in
cat build.log | claude -p "explain this failure"