[FEATURE] Windows install: add MSI installer + auto-configure PATH

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

I face issues with CLI install , Claude helped me - see
Glad it's working now! You're right — the install flow has rough edges on Windows:

1. cmd vs PowerShell confusion — the install command uses PowerShell syntax (irm | iex) but most users start in cmd
2. PATH not auto-configured — installer detects the problem but just tells you to fix it manually via GUI
3. No restart prompt — even after PATH is set, users hit "command not found" until they reopen the terminal

A one-click MSI installer (like VS Code or GitHub Desktop uses) would handle all of this — set PATH, register claude globally, no PowerShell required.

To pass this along

I can't directly message the Claude Code team, but you can:

• File an issue: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues — this is where the team tracks feedback. Title it something like "Windows install: add MSI installer + auto-configure PATH" with the pain points above.
• Or use /bug inside Claude Code — once you start a session with claude, typing /bug sends feedback directly to the team.

Both go to real humans on the product team. Your feedback is exactly the kind of thing that drives installer improvements.

Proposed Solution

Glad it's working now! You're right — the install flow has rough edges on Windows:

1. cmd vs PowerShell confusion — the install command uses PowerShell syntax (irm | iex) but most users start in cmd
2. PATH not auto-configured — installer detects the problem but just tells you to fix it manually via GUI
3. No restart prompt — even after PATH is set, users hit "command not found" until they reopen the terminal

A one-click MSI installer (like VS Code or GitHub Desktop uses) would handle all of this — set PATH, register claude globally, no PowerShell required.

To pass this along

I can't directly message the Claude Code team, but you can:

• File an issue: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues — this is where the team tracks feedback. Title it something like "Windows install: add MSI installer + auto-configure PATH" with the pain points above.
• Or use /bug inside Claude Code — once you start a session with claude, typing /bug sends feedback directly to the team.

Both go to real humans on the product team. Your feedback is exactly the kind of thing that drives installer improvements.

Alternative Solutions

_No response_

Priority

Critical - Blocking my work

Feature Category

CLI commands and flags

Use Case Example

_No response_

Additional Context

_No response_