[BUG] Claude fails to start on Windows (fine on WSL)

Resolved 💬 4 comments Opened Sep 19, 2025 by mdsomerfield Closed Jan 12, 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?

When I try launch claude from a Windows cmd terminal, I get the following error:

file:///C:/Users/somer/AppData/Roaming/npm/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1

SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token
    at compileSourceTextModule (node:internal/modules/esm/utils:338:16)
    at ModuleLoader.moduleStrategy (node:internal/modules/esm/translators:102:18)
    at #translate (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:468:12)
    at ModuleLoader.loadAndTranslate (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:515:27)
    at async ModuleJob._link (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:115:19)

Node.js v22.14.0

What Should Happen?

Claude startup message should appear.

Error Messages/Logs

file:///C:/Users/somer/AppData/Roaming/npm/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/cli.js:1

SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token
    at compileSourceTextModule (node:internal/modules/esm/utils:338:16)
    at ModuleLoader.moduleStrategy (node:internal/modules/esm/translators:102:18)
    at #translate (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:468:12)
    at ModuleLoader.loadAndTranslate (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:515:27)
    at async ModuleJob._link (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:115:19)

Node.js v22.14.0

Steps to Reproduce

Enter the command claude on a Windows terminal.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

1.0.118

Claude Code Version

1.0.119

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

It is fine for my WSL installation on the same machine, so seems Windows-specific. Was also working early today on Windows in version 1.0.118

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