Sign Up for Claude
We're going to create your account.
Do this on a computer or tablet if you can — the signup is a little easier than on a phone. You'll install the app on your phone in the next lesson.
Start with the free plan. No credit card needed. It's enough to work through the first handful of modules, with one heads-up: free has usage limits. After a stretch of back-and-forth, Claude may tell you you've hit your cap and ask you to come back in a few hours — that's a pause, not a problem. It resets on its own and you pick up exactly where you left off. When we get to Cowork (the feature that lets Claude actually organize your files and run tasks on your computer), you'll upgrade to Pro — $20/month. We'll tell you exactly when and why.
What you'll have at the end of this lesson
- A Claude account (free)
- Privacy settings adjusted the way we recommend
- A bookmarked tab for claude.ai
- Your first message sent
Step 1 — Go to claude.ai
Open your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge — any one works) and type claude.ai into the address bar. Or click the button below.
You'll see a welcome screen with a sign-in card. There's no separate "Sign up" button — new and returning users take the same path: click Continue with Google (fastest if you have a Gmail account), or enter your email and click Continue with email. Pick whichever you prefer. If this is your first time, those buttons walk you into account creation from there.
Step 2 — Create your account
You have three ways to sign up. Pick whichever feels easiest.
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Sign up with Google
Fastest option. Click the "Continue with Google" button and pick the Google account you want to link. Takes about 20 seconds.
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Sign up with Apple
If you're on an iPhone or Mac, this works just like signing in with Apple anywhere else. Face ID or password and you're in.
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Sign up with email
Type your email, create a password, and confirm from a verification email. Takes about 2 minutes.
After you pick a signup method, Claude will ask for your first name and confirm your age. Fill those in and you're in.
Step 3 — Adjust your privacy settings
You're signed in. Before you send your first message, let's take 30 seconds to set the privacy toggle we mentioned in the welcome lesson.
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Click your name or initials
In the bottom-left corner of the Claude window, you'll see your name or a circle with your initials. Click it.
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Choose "Settings"
A menu pops up. Click Settings.
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Open "Privacy"
In the Settings sidebar, click Privacy.
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Turn off "Help improve Claude"
Look for a toggle labeled something like "Help improve Claude" or "Use my chats for model training." Switch it off. This means your conversations won't be used to train future models — they still work normally, they just stay more private.
(Optional. If you'd rather help Claude improve, leave it on. It's your call.)
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Close Settings
Click the X or click anywhere outside the settings panel. You're done.
Step 4 — Send your first message
You're on the main Claude page. There's a big text box. Type or paste this prompt, then press Enter:
Claude will respond. Read it. Try one follow-up — "make it shorter" or "give me an example of each" or whatever. That's the whole interaction.
Before you leave this tab
Bookmark claude.ai in your browser. On most browsers you press Cmd+D (Mac) or Ctrl+D (Windows) and hit Save. You want this one click away from now on.
Done. Next up → your phone.
Grab your phone for the next lesson. We'll install the Claude app and turn on voice mode — the combo that makes Claude useful in the carpool line, the kitchen, and everywhere your hands are full.
Continue to Install + Voice Mode →