Cannot update Claude CLI - update commands fail silently

Cannot update Claude CLI - update commands fail silently

Problem Description

Claude CLI cannot be updated from version 1.0.70 to 1.0.72. Multiple update methods report success but the binary remains at the old version.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Using claude update:

``powershell
claude update
``
Reports success but version remains unchanged

1. Using PowerShell installation:

``powershell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
``
Appears to run without errors but doesn't actually update

Root Cause

The PowerShell installation script fails silently when Get-FileHash cmdlet is unavailable. The script:

• Downloads successfully
• Fails at hash verification step
• Doesn't display any error message
• Leaves the old version in place

Impact

• Cannot apply updates, security fixes, or new features
• Extremely confusing - both methods appear to succeed
• No error messages to indicate what went wrong
• Users stuck on outdated versions

Suggested Fix

1. Make failures visible - both update methods should clearly report when they fail
2. Add fallback verification - use certutil or skip verification with warning when Get-FileHash is missing
3. Verify actual update - claude update should confirm the binary was actually replaced

Workaround

Manual download and replacement of the binary from GitHub releases.