Claude Code Chat UI is a native graphical extension designed for Windows users who want a more intuitive way to interact with Claude Code. It eliminates the need for WSL or complex terminal configurations. If you have Git Bash and Node.js installed, you have everything you need to get started.
This tool addresses two major friction points for Windows developers: path compatibility and terminal instability. Instead of troubleshooting shell errors, you can work within a dedicated panel inside VS Code or Cursor. The interface also provides real-time monitoring of token usage and costs, allowing you to track exactly what a debugging session costs as it happens.
Claude-Code ChatUI or lkbaba in the VS Code Marketplace. For offline environments, the .vsix file is available on the GitHub Releases page.These steps prevent the "no suitable shell found" error that often occurs when running Claude Code on Windows.
setx NPM_CONFIG_IGNORE_SCRIPTS true
For Claude Code v1.0.50 and below, you must also manually set the SHELL variable:setx SHELL "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe"
(Note: Adjust the path if Git is installed in a custom location.)npm install -g @anthropic-ai/[email protected]
If PowerShell blocks the installation, bypass the execution policy:Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Force
C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\npm.claude code in your terminal. Authorize the session through your browser and paste the resulting token back into the terminal. (Skip this if you intend to use only third-party APIs).claude chat -m sonnet -p "hello"
Ctrl+Shift+X), search for Claude-Code ChatUI, and click Install..zip from the GitHub Releases page, extract the .vsix file, and install it via the VS Code Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P > Install from VSIX).git clone https://github.com/LKbaba/Claude-code-ChatInWindows.git
cd Claude-code-ChatInWindows
npm install
Press F5 to start debugging, or run npm run package to generate your own .vsix file.The extension supports endpoints such as api.tu-zi.com, openrouter.ai, and anyrouter.top.
Configuration in the Extension:
Initial Configuration (PowerShell): To initialize the CLI with a third-party provider, set the environment variables before running the app:
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Force
$Env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = "your_api_key"
$Env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://your-proxy-endpoint.com"
claude code
Note: Environment variables set this way are temporary. For a permanent setup, add them to your Windows System Environment Variables.
Q: I upgraded to Claude Code v1.0.51 and now see "no suitable shell found." Version 1.0.51 changed how native Windows paths are handled.
PATH variable and remove any entries pointing specifically to Git\bin.C:\Program Files\Git\cmd remains in your PATH.Q: The chat panel is unresponsive after I set a custom API.
You must run claude code at least once in a standard terminal with your custom ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and API_KEY set as environment variables. Once the CLI initializes successfully, the extension will be able to communicate with it.
Q: I'm getting a "rg: command not found" error.
ripgrep is optional; the extension defaults to standard grep if rg is missing. If you prefer to use ripgrep, you can install it manually:
# Example for installing via curl in Git Bash
curl -L https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep/releases/download/14.1.0/ripgrep-14.1.0-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip -o ripgrep.zip
unzip ripgrep.zip
# Move rg.exe to a folder in your PATH
Launch the chat panel anytime using Ctrl+Shift+C.
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