Installing Node.js on Windows

The runtime required by all three AI coding tools

💡 Important

Claude Code, CodeX, and Gemini CLI all require Node.js 18+ to run. If you already have Node.js 18 or higher installed, you can skip this section. Verify with: node -v

Option 1: Official installer (recommended)

1. Visit the Node.js website: https://nodejs.org/en/download
2. Download the LTS (Long-Term Support) Windows Installer (.msi)
3. Run the installer and complete the installation with the default settings
4. The installer automatically configures the system PATH environment variable

Option 2: Package managers

Using Winget

For Windows 11 or the latest Windows 10:

winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS

Using Chocolatey

Install Chocolatey first, then:

choco install nodejs-lts

Using Scoop

scoop install nodejs-lts

Verify the installation

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:

node --version
npm --version

If a version number appears (e.g. v18.x.x or higher), the installation was successful.

Troubleshooting

"Not recognized as an internal or external command"

• Reopen the terminal window
• Check that the PATH environment variable includes the Node.js directory
• Restart your computer and try again

Installation fails

• Run the installer as administrator
• Disable antivirus software and try again
• Make sure there is enough free space on the system drive

Next steps

✅ Environment ready!

You're now set to install Claude Code, CodeX, or Gemini CLI.

• Back to environment setup overview
• Install Claude Code
• Use the CC-Switch tool