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Getting started with Claude

Updated this week

What is Claude?

Claude is a large language model (LLM) built by Anthropic. It's trained to be a helpful, honest, and harmless assistant with a conversational tone.

How to access Claude

You can access Claude through several platforms:

  • Web: Visit claude.ai to chat with Claude in a web browser.

  • Desktop: Download Claude Desktop for Mac or Windows.

  • Mobile: Download Claude for iOS or Android to chat on your mobile device.

Supported locations

You must be in one of our supported locations to access Claude.

Is there an age requirement to use Claude?

You must be at least 18 years old to use our services.

How to talk to Claude

What is a prompt?

You use prompts to communicate with Claude. The best approach is to speak to Claude like you would a coworker or friend - naturally and conversationally. Your prompts can range from simple questions to complex requests:

  • Simple questions: "How do I hang a picture frame in my room?"

  • Complex requests: Multi-step projects, analysis, creative writing, coding, or technical tasks.

Understanding Claude's Capabilities

Which model am I talking to?

The model you're currently chatting with is displayed below your text input. Free users can’t adjust this, but users on paid plans can toggle between different models using the model selector.

Can I chat with Claude in different languages?

Claude has extensive training in English and performs well in many other common languages. It also has some ability to communicate in less common languages and has extensive knowledge of programming languages.

See Using Claude in Your Preferred Language for instructions for selecting a language in your settings.

Are there any usage limits or limits on chat length?

While using the free Claude plan, there is a session-based message limit that will reset every five hours. Also, the number of messages you can send will vary based on demand, and we may impose other types of usage limits to ensure fair access to all users. Claude will notify you when you’ve reached your limit, or if your prompt exceeds the available context window.

Tips for Getting Started

  1. Start Simple: Begin with straightforward questions to get familiar with how Claude responds.

  2. Be Specific: The more specific your request, the better Claude can assist you.

  3. Iterate: Don't hesitate to refine your prompts or ask follow-up questions.

  4. Explore: Try different types of tasks - from having Claude answer basic questions to using it as a collaboration partner for more involved projects.

Next Steps

Once you've started using Claude, you can:

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