Why git
When you open Claude Code and point it at a folder, you might see this:
Git is required for local sessions.
Git is part of what makes Claude Code run. It tracks every change Claude makes to your files, so nothing gets lost and you can always step back. It is free, you install it once, and then you stop thinking about it.
Install it here: git-scm.com/downloads
On a Mac, a small window usually pops up and offers to install it for you. Click through that and follow the steps. On Windows, download the installer from the link and accept the defaults.
You can use the prompt below in Claude Chat in order to help guide your through the process of installing Git, which I recommend for non-technical beginners:
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