[BUG] Claude-code brew install fails if Claude already installed, even if also via Brew

Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Jan 1, 2026 by jeyrb Closed Jan 4, 2026

Preflight Checklist

  • [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
  • [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
  • [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

brew install claude-code fails if Claude already installed - tried this with Claude installed natively and via brew.

==> Installing Cask claude-code
==> Purging files for version 2.0.76 of Cask claude-code
Error: It seems there is already a Binary at '/opt/homebrew/bin/claude'.

Trying brew install --force Claude recommended doesn't resolve that.

Claude is suitably embarrassed at diagnosing its own install problems ;-)

What Should Happen?

a) it works
b) failing that, its documented in troubleshooting guide
c) failing that, Claude's own advice to solve it works

Made it work using sudo mv /opt/homebrew/bin/claude /opt/homebrew/bin/claude-noncode, leaving this bug report here for folks who might want Claude but not know to do that

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

brew install claude
brew install claude-code

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.0.76

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

shell is ghostty

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