[BUG] Native installer downloads correct version but `claude install` reports wrong version and fails to create symlink

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?

The native installer script downloads the correct version (2.1.23) but when it runs claude install, that command:

1. Reports an incorrect/old version (2.1.7)
2. Fails to create the symlink at ~/.local/bin/claude
3. Shows a warning: "installMethod is native, but claude command not found at /Users/nolan/.local/bin/claude"

Debug trace shows the issue clearly:

$ curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash -x 2>&1 | tail -30
+ curl -fsSL -o /Users/nolan/.claude/downloads/claude-2.1.23-darwin-arm64 https://storage.googleapis.com/claude-code-dist-.../claude-code-releases/2.1.23/darwin-arm64/claude
+ chmod +x /Users/nolan/.claude/downloads/claude-2.1.23-darwin-arm64
+ echo 'Setting up Claude Code...'
+ /Users/nolan/.claude/downloads/claude-2.1.23-darwin-arm64 install
# Output claims Version: 2.1.7 (wrong!)
# Warning: installMethod is native, but claude command not found
+ rm -f /Users/nolan/.claude/downloads/claude-2.1.23-darwin-arm64

The downloaded binary is correct:

$ /Users/nolan/.claude/downloads/claude-2.1.23-darwin-arm64 --version
2.1.23 (Claude Code)

But claude install appears to be looking at some cached/stale version info and fails to create the symlink.

Related Issues

• #7547 - Binary silently deleted after install
• #21061 - claude install removes the binary
• #9666 - Fresh native install warns about npm

This may share a root cause with those issues.

Workaround

Manual installation works:

curl -fsSL -o /tmp/claude "https://storage.googleapis.com/claude-code-dist-86c565f3-f756-42ad-8dfa-d59b1c096819/claude-code-releases/2.1.23/darwin-arm64/claude"
chmod +x /tmp/claude
mkdir -p ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code/2.1.23
mv /tmp/claude ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code/2.1.23/claude
ln -sf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code/2.1.23/claude ~/.local/bin/claude

What Should Happen?

The installer should:

1. Report the correct version that was downloaded
2. Successfully create the symlink at ~/.local/bin/claude
3. Not delete the binary before the symlink is verified

Error Messages/Logs

Setting up Claude Code...
⚠ Setup notes:
  • installMethod is native, but claude command not found at
  /Users/nolan/.local/bin/claude

✔ Claude Code successfully installed!

  Version: 2.1.7    <-- WRONG, should be 2.1.23

  Location: ~/.local/bin/claude   <-- Does not exist

Steps to Reproduce

1. Ensure no existing claude installation (rm -rf ~/.local/bin/claude ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code)
2. Run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | sh
3. Check which claude - not found
4. Check ~/.local/bin/claude - does not exist

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

Unknown - native installer has been broken for a while based on related issues

Claude Code Version

2.1.23 (attempted), 2.1.7 (reported incorrectly)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

zsh

Additional Information

• macOS on Apple Silicon (arm64)
• ~/.local/bin is in PATH via ~/.zshrc
• No npm installation present at time of test