Windows – install method keeps flipping (unknown ↔︎ npm-global) despite native install; want stable native setup

Hello,

I’m having trouble with Claude Code on Windows — it’s not detecting the correct installation config.

Env

Windows (PowerShell + Git Bash installed)

Node at C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe

Git Bash at C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Claude Code 1.0.72

What I need
A clean, stable native install (only C:\Users\<username>\.local\bin\claude.exe on PATH), and claude doctor recognizing the install method consistently (no “unknown” / mismatch). Also: confirm whether the “unknown” detection is a known bug and how to suppress it.

What I did (critical steps & results)

Reinstalled via npm:

npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest
where claude -> C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\npm\claude(.cmd)
claude --version -> 1.0.72

Ran native installer from CLI:

claude install

Output: "Claude Code successfully installed! Location: C:\Users\<username>\.local\bin\claude.exe"

claude doctor --debug (immediately after #2):

Currently running: npm-global (1.0.72)
Invoked: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@anthropic-ai\claude-code\cli.js
Config install method: native

claude update --debug:

Warns of mismatch (config expects native, currently running npm-global).

Then it flips config to global, tries npm view, and fails (code 1, empty stderr).

Manual npm view @anthropic-ai/claude-code version works → 1.0.72.

npm whoami → ENEEDAUTH (not logged in).

Ran claude migrate-installer (success), restarted shell.
Now:

doctor:
  Currently running: unknown (1.0.72)
  Invoked: C:\Users\<username>\.claude\local\node_modules\@anthropic-ai\claude-code\cli.js
  Config install method: local
update --debug:
  Installation type: unknown
  Config install method: local
  Latest version from npm: 1.0.72
  "Claude Code is up to date (1.0.72)"

Current symptoms

doctor keeps reporting unknown or npm-global while config says native or local.

update sometimes uses npm even when config says native/local.

I want a single canonical native install and a consistent doctor result.

Questions

What’s the supported way to reset so only the native binary is on PATH and recognized (no npm/local shims)?

Should claude update ever call npm when config is native/local? If not, how do I prevent that?

Is the “Currently running: unknown” output a known issue? If so, any workaround to verify I’m truly on native (e.g., a specific path/check)?

Thanks!