How to Use Claude Code on Windows with Docker Desktop

If you're into AI-assisted coding, you've probably heard of Claude Code. It's an AI programming assistant developed by Anthropic, built on the Claude Opus 4 model and optimized specifically for coding scenarios. Fun fact: Cursor actually relies heavily on this same technology under the hood.

The catch? Claude Code isn't directly accessible in many regions yet. But don't worry—there's a workaround using API relay services. Let me walk you through how to get it running on Windows using Docker Desktop, no Node.js version juggling required.

Why Docker Desktop Makes Sense Here

Many developers hesitate to change their Node.js version because different projects have different requirements. Switch versions carelessly, and you might break something else. That's where Docker comes in—it lets you run Claude Code in an isolated environment without touching your system's Node.js installation.

If you're new to Docker Desktop or need help getting it set up, there are plenty of installation guides out there. Once you have it running, you're ready to move forward.

Getting Your API Access Ready

First things first: you'll need API credentials to connect Claude Code to Anthropic's services. Since direct access isn't available everywhere, using a relay service is the most practical solution.

You'll want to grab an API key from a service that provides Claude API access. When dealing with AI coding tools that require stable API connections and generous token limits, finding a reliable relay service matters. 👉 Check out AICodeMirror for Claude API access with daily credits and straightforward setup—it handles the authentication overhead so you can focus on coding.

Once you have your API key (it'll look something like sk-xxxxxxxx), copy it somewhere safe. You'll need it in the next step.

Setting Up Your Environment File

Create a .env file in your project directory. This file will store your API credentials so Claude Code can authenticate properly. Here's what it should contain:

ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN=sk-your-key
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-your-key
ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://api.aicodemirror.com/api/claudecode

Replace sk-your-key with your actual API key. Yes, you need to fill in both TOKEN and KEY fields—otherwise you'll get a 401 authentication error.

Quick tip: If you see a warning message during setup, don't panic. As long as both TOKEN and KEY are filled in correctly, everything should work fine.

Running Claude Code in Docker

Now for the fun part. Open your terminal and run this command to create a Docker container with Node.js 18, load your environment variables, and map your Windows project directory into the container:

bash
docker run -it --rm --name claude-code --env-file "D:\claude.env" -v "D:\claude\workspace:/app" node:18 /bin/bash

Adjust the paths to match your actual directory structure. The -v flag maps your Windows folder (D:\claude\workspace) to the container's /app directory, so Claude Code can access your project files.

If you want the container to keep running in the background so you can jump back in whenever you need, consider using Docker's detached mode with appropriate restart policies. But for getting started, the interactive mode above works perfectly.

Installing Claude Code

Once you're inside the container (you'll see the bash prompt), install Claude Code globally:

bash
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Give it a minute to download and install. When it's done, verify the installation:

bash
claude --version

You should see the version number pop up. Congratulations—Claude Code is now ready to use!

What to Expect

Unlike Cursor's polished GUI, Claude Code runs in the command line. It doesn't have the convenient @ file selection or visual interface you might be used to. But that's not necessarily a bad thing—command-line tools often provide more direct control and can be integrated into automated workflows more easily.

The real test, of course, is how well it performs in actual coding scenarios. Since it's powered by Claude Opus 4, it should handle complex programming tasks with solid reasoning capabilities. For developers who value AI assistance with strong context understanding and reliable code generation, tools built on Claude's foundation tend to deliver consistent results.

Whether you're debugging tricky issues, refactoring legacy code, or prototyping new features, having an AI coding assistant that runs in your development environment can significantly speed up your workflow. And with Docker handling the environment isolation, you can experiment freely without worrying about breaking your existing setup.

Ready to see what Claude Code can do for your projects? The setup might seem like a few extra steps compared to cloud-based solutions, but having full control over your development environment and API usage often pays off in the long run.