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Easy AI How-To

BeginnerClaudeGetting started

Get started with Claude: your first useful chat

Claude is a chat assistant made by Anthropic. This guide gets you from a blank screen to one finished, checked piece of work in about ten minutes, without any jargon.

Time
About 10 minutes
Checked
Tool
Claude

If a button name on the screen does not match this guide, follow the action. These products rename buttons often.

Steps

  1. Open Claude and sign in

    Go to claude.ai in your browser, or install the Claude app. Choose to sign in with your email or Google account and follow the code or link Claude sends you. The free plan is enough for everything in this guide.

  2. Start a new chat

    You land on a page with one big message box. That box is where you type. Each new chat starts fresh, so Claude does not remember other chats unless you turn on memory features later.

  3. Ask for one clear thing

    Say what you want, who it is for, and how long it should be. Replace the parts in brackets.

    Prompt to paste

    I need to [reply to an email from my landlord about a late repair].
Write a short, polite reply, under 120 words.
Here is the email: [paste the email]

  4. Ask for changes instead of starting over

    Reply in the same chat: "Make it friendlier," "Shorter," or "Add that I am free Tuesday after 5." Claude keeps the earlier messages in mind within one chat.

  5. Attach a file when the answer depends on it

    Click the + or paperclip button next to the message box and pick a PDF, document, or image. Then ask a question about it, such as "What are the deadlines in this letter?"

  6. Check before you use it

    Read the answer yourself. Check names, dates, prices, and anything quoted from your file against the original. Claude can sound sure and still be wrong.

Tips

  • Free plans have a message limit that resets after a few hours. If you hit it, wait or keep long tasks to fewer, fuller messages.

  • Do not paste passwords, full card numbers, or ID numbers. Cover them before you attach a photo or file.

  • If the answer is too long, say exactly how long you want it: 'three bullet points' works better than 'shorter.'

Common questions

Is Claude free?

Yes, there is a free plan with daily limits. Paid plans add more use and features. Limits change, so check the plan page in your account.

Does Claude remember my other chats?

Each chat is separate by default. Some plans offer memory and Projects that share context; you can see and change these in Settings.

What if I don't see the + button?

Look for a paperclip or "Add files" option near the message box. On phones it may be inside a small menu.

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