Staying current on Claude Code updates brings model improvements, bug fixes, and security patches. Updates should be boring — download, apply, smoke test — unless you skipped months of releases.
Where updates appear
- In-app notifications on desktop builds.
- Release notes linked from Anthropic docs and our changelog summary.
- CLI/package managers depending on how you installed.
Recommended update ritual
- Finish or stash active agent tasks.
- Update from claude.com/download or the in-app prompt.
- Restart the app and terminal sessions.
- Re-run login if prompted.
- Execute a one-minute smoke test in a sample repo.
Before major version jumps
Export custom rules, note extension versions, and snapshot config directories if docs mention migrations. Teams should pin versions in runbooks until QA signs off.
Rollback strategy
Keep the previous installer or note the last working version. Uninstall, reinstall the older build, and disable auto-update temporarily while reporting regressions.
When updates seem stuck
Check disk space, antivirus locks, and whether the app is still running in the background tray. Reboot, then reinstall from the official download page.
Ready to install Claude Code? Start on our download page, then use the official installer.
Open download page Official download