[BUG] claude crashed in terminal, and i'm getting the error `zsh: command not found: claude` when i try to reopen by running `claude`

[mag-e-williams]

Environment

• Platform (select one):
  • Anthropic API
  • AWS Bedrock
  • Google Vertex AI
  • Other:
• Claude CLI version:
• Operating System:
• Terminal:

Bug Description

Claude was working well, and then all of the sudden it crashed, and now when i try to run claude in my terminal to reopen the interface, im getting zsh: command not found: claude

Expected Behavior

open the claude code interface

Actual Behavior

zsh: command not found: claude

Additional Context

I;ve tried to uninstall and re-install the npm package, but im gettiing the following error when i try to uninstall

npm ERR! code EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL
npm ERR! Unsupported URL Type "workspace:": workspace:^

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/maggiewilliams/.npm/_logs/2025-03-13T20_04_40_485Z-debug-0.log
maggiewilliams@Maggies-MacBook-Pro-5 clay-base % npm uninstall @anthropic-ai/claude-code
npm ERR! code EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL
npm ERR! Unsupported URL Type "workspace:": workspace:^

[bcherny]

Hey! Are you using the -g flag? npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code && npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

[mag-e-williams]

With that flag, im am still unable to successfully uninstall/reinstall and getting the following error:

npm ERR! code ENOTEMPTY
npm ERR! syscall rename
npm ERR! path /Users/maggiewilliams/.nvm/versions/node/v18.18.2/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code
npm ERR! dest /Users/maggiewilliams/.nvm/versions/node/v18.18.2/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/.claude-code-7cM9dxTP
npm ERR! errno -66
npm ERR! ENOTEMPTY: directory not empty, rename '/Users/maggiewilliams/.nvm/versions/node/v18.18.2/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code' -> '/Users/maggiewilliams/.nvm/versions/node/v18.18.2/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/.claude-code-7cM9dxTP'

and i am still unable to run claude, still getting the error
zsh: command not found: claude

after previously being able to run it successfully

[lukashanak]

same thing happening for me

[lukashanak]

Solution, this has worked for me

Remove the existing directory before reinstalling:

rm -rf ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.13.1/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

[dkiselew]

Same here, i just closed Claude Code and after that in other directory I'm trying to execute "claude" and get "Command not found". macOS Sonoma

[ijohnson-coursera]

Same issue here

[asadakbar]

I didn't have an issue uninstalling, and reinstalling does not resolve the issue. I also used the -g flag.

[jackwpearson]

I am having the same issue. Uninstall does not seem to work either

[joe-cranney]

Having same issue

[leeovery]

Also having this issue. Uninstalling and reinstalling is doing nothing to fix, which makes absolutely no sense, unless some funky stuff is going on during the install, which is being skipped during reinstall.