Getting Started with Claude — Anthropic: Account and Settings

How do you get started with Claude?

Create a Claude account via claude.ai or the genuine app, confirm your access, and then review your language preferences, privacy settings, and personal instructions. Start with a simple task that doesn’t involve sensitive data; you don’t need to sign up for a paid subscription or connect other applications right away.

Creating a Claude account: where do you start?

You can get started with Claude from Anthropic via claude.ai or an genuine Claude app. Choose an available sign-in method, complete the verification process, and confirm the email address used to create your account.

According to the current documentation, you can sign in using Google or an email address, among other options. When signing in delivered instantly, you’ll receive a secure link. For a brand new account, Anthropic also requires phone verification.

After that, you can use the free version to get acquainted with the assistant. A paid subscription is an optional choice—it’s not a necessary step to have your first conversation.

The steps below were verified on October 28, 2026. Anthropic regularly updates its settings and interface. As a result, names and menu locations may vary between accounts, even when the underlying setting functions the same way.

What do you need to have ready beforehand?

You’ll mainly need access to the email address you want to use and a valid phone number for verification. Choose carefully: this information is associated with your account—it’s not just temporary input fields.

• An accessible email address: use an address you expect to have access to for the long term.
• A phone number that receives text messages: Anthropic accepts numbers from supported locations for this purpose.
• A compatible browser or genuine app: if in doubt, start with the website.
• A clear distinction between personal and business use: if using the software for work, first check your organization’s policies.

The minimum age requirement for Claude is 18 years. The service is available in Belgium and the Netherlands. A work or school address does not change the age requirement.

Don’t just choose any temporary email address

According to Anthropic’s account documentation, you currently cannot easily change your linked email address. That makes your choice during registration important.

An address associated with a temporary assignment or an employer you’ll soon be leaving can cause problems later on. For business use, however, a managed corporate account may be necessary. Let the intended use determine which environment and which address are appropriate.

Don’t create multiple accounts just yet if you’re still deciding. A single, clearly chosen account is easier to find when you want to check your conversations, settings, or a payment.

Step-by-step guide to creating a Claude account

Step 1: Open the genuine Claude interface

Go directly to claude.ai or use an app that links to the genuine download page. When using an app, check the provider and don’t rely solely on the name or icon.

For a first-time experience, the browser is often the quickest route. You can use the same account information later in another supported Claude environment.

Step 2: Choose your registration method

The Anthropic sign-up guide describes these features, among others:

• Continue with Google: sign in with your Google account.
• Continue delivered instantly: sign up using a secure link sent to your email address.

Check in Google to see which account is selected. On a computer with multiple Google profiles, it’s easy to overlook a wrongly selected address.

If you’re using email, please double-check the spelling before sending. A small difference could be the reason you don’t receive a message later.

Step 3: Confirm access to your email

When you choose the email option, you’ll receive a verification email. If you open the link on the same device, Claude can take you directly back to the logged-in environment.

If you open the message on a different device, a verification code may appear that you’ll need to enter on the genuine device. Be sure to read the on-screen instructions carefully.

Claude does not use a separate password that you set up for Claude yourself for this process. Therefore, do not save a login link or code as a permanent password.

Step 4: Verify your phone number

For brand new accounts, Anthropic requires SMS verification with a six-digit code. Use a number you have access to and enter the code you receive on the verification screen.

According to the verification requirements, landlines, VoIP numbers, and certain numbers created via apps are not eligible. According to this documentation, this step cannot be skipped.

If the screen asks for other confirmations, please read them before proceeding. The goal is to set up your account correctly, not to click through all the screens as quickly as possible.

Step 5: Check your account information

After logging in, open your profile menu and check your email address. Make a note of which login method you used.

This simple check prevents a lot of confusion later on. Especially if you use multiple addresses for both personal and business purposes, “I’m logged in” doesn’t necessarily mean “I’m in the right account.”

Where can you find Claude’s settings?

On the web version, you can usually open the menu by clicking your name, initials, or profile icon. From there, go to Settings. On mobile devices, the profile menu may be located elsewhere.

Next, search based on the setting’s purpose. If you want to adjust readability, look under “Appearance.” “Your Claude” is relevant for response preferences. Data usage is listed under “Privacy.”

If an item isn’t where you expect it to be, check the current layout of your account. A missing button doesn’t necessarily mean something is broken.

Have Claude respond in Dutch

You can use Claude in Dutch, even if the menus are in English. The conversation language and the interface language are separate settings.

Anthropic lists the available display languages in its language settings. If Dutch isn’t among the interface options, you can still type in Dutch.

To ensure a consistent writing style, you can specify a few preferences. For example, you might indicate that you want clear Dutch for Belgian readers and that technical terms should be briefly explained.

Answer in standard, clear Dutch. Use words that are commonly used in Belgium. Briefly explain any unfamiliar technical terms and adjust the length of your answer to fit the question.

Test this with a simple question. If you’re still hearing a different tone or language, please specify during the conversation what needs to be adjusted.

Set up personalized instructions

In the personal instructions, you can set general preferences that are often useful. According to the personalization guide, you’ll find them under “Your Claude” and “Instructions,” though they may have different names in older settings.

Keep these guidelines brief. A few practical rules are easier to follow than a long list of rules that partly contradict each other.

What do you include?

Consider language, explanatory style, and consistent preferences for responses. Choose prompts that work well in a wide variety of conversations.

Provide the direct answer first. Write clearly and use concrete examples when they help. Point out any missing information and make it clear when you’re making an assumption.

Another user, on the other hand, might need more technical details. There’s no one-size-fits-all best setting; the key is that Claude better suits your specific use case.

What should be included in the order itself?

One-time requirements are usually specific to the conversation at hand. Examples include the target audience for a specific text, a desired length, or a request to use only a certain document.

If you set “always answer in a maximum of three sentences” across the board, this may later conflict with a request for a detailed manual. Therefore, formulate general instructions with enough flexibility to accommodate the specific task at hand.

A practical breakdown

Use personalized instructions based on your usual preferences. Include project-specific details within the relevant project. Describe the specific task during the conversation. This ensures it remains clear which instruction is intended for what purpose.

Customize the appearance to your liking

In the appearance settings, you can choose between light mode, dark mode, or following your platform settings, among other options.

In addition, Anthropic describes various font options, including one for a dyslexia-friendly display. Be sure to try out which display you find most comfortable when reading longer passages of text.

Evaluate this by providing a genuine response on the screen. Are the headings easy to distinguish? Can you read longer paragraphs comfortably? Does the selected mode suit the space in which you’re working?

If necessary, you can also enlarge the browser view using the standard zoom function. You don’t need to enlarge the content of each answer separately.

Check your selection for model upgrades

For personal Claude subscriptions, you can specify in the privacy settings whether your data may be used to improve the models. Anthropic refers to this setting as “Help Improve our AI models.”

You can find these in the Privacy Centre under Settings and Privacy. Read the explanation and make an informed choice based on your usage.

Turning it off does not undo any training that has already been performed. Anthropic also describes separate uses for security and policy enforcement. Therefore, do not consider the toggle as a general delete button.

Different terms apply to business products. When working for a company, follow the environment and rules approved by your organization. A personal privacy choice does not override those terms.

Memory and past conversations: what settings should you choose?

Claude can use available memory features to carry over relevant background information to future conversations. There’s also a feature to search through previous chats. Availability and default settings may vary by account and organization.

In the current documentation, you’ll find these options under “Your Claude,” though they may be located elsewhere in older versions. Check there to see what’s enabled and what information you can manage.

When can memory be useful?

Memory can reduce the need for repeated explanations. For example, when you frequently write for the same target audience or are working on a longer-term project.

Start with information that actually makes a difference. You don’t need to enter extensive personal history to make the feature useful. A clear writing preference may be all it takes.

Check what’s saved

Check the available memory information from time to time. Preferences may change, and an old project may have been completed. Update any incorrect or outdated information using the provided management options.

The memory guide also distinguishes between pausing and resetting. Read the confirmation before making a choice: temporarily not using the memory and deleting saved memory are different offers.

A regular call or an incognito call?

According to Anthropic, incognito conversations are not recorded in your regular chat history or memory and are not used for model training. You can start them outside of a project using the dedicated incognito button.

That doesn’t mean no data is retained. Anthropic specifies retention periods; additional rules may apply in organizational environments. Features in an incognito call may also differ from those in the regular environment.

Use the incognito mode to determine whether this type of conversation is suitable. Save any important results before closing the window: according to the documentation, a closed incognito window cannot be reopened.

Clearing your cache is not the same as incognito mode

A conversation without a history may still remain in the chat history. If you want to determine whether a conversation can be retrieved later, you’ll also need to consider the type of conversation you’ve chosen.

Read the description of the setting instead of relying solely on the name. Words like “temporary,” “memory,” and “history” each have their own specific meanings.

What links do you need to get started?

You don’t need a linked email account, calendar, or file service for your initial inquiries. Start with a standard request and only add a connection when you have a clear reason to do so.

For example: you want to regularly access information from an approved project environment. In that case, you can check whether a suitable integration is available and what kind of access it requires.

When connecting, check which data can be used and whether the connection can also make changes. Reading files and modifying files are two different options.

For a beginner, a single, straightforward approach is clearer than activating all available add-ons right away. You can expand later once you know what you need.

Getting Your First Meeting Off to a Good Start

For your first assignment, use material that you understand and can easily check yourself. A short piece of your own writing or a few non-confidential notes are suitable for this purpose.

A simple assignment includes a goal, source material, and desired format. You don’t need to write complicated instructions just yet.

Below are my notes for a meeting. Organize them into topics, decisions, and open questions. Do not add any names, agreements, or deadlines that are not included in the notes.

Then check whether Claude distinguishes between what you actually wrote and what still needs to be discussed. Provide specific feedback if something wasn’t transcribed correctly.

Also, test your settings

Use the first conversation to see if your language and response preferences align. Is the explanation too detailed? Ask for a shorter version and assess whether the core message remains intact.

Only adjust general instructions if the problem occurs repeatedly. You don’t need to set a one-time preference for all future calls right away.

Using the Same Account on a Different Device

Sign in on another device using the same email address as on your first device. After signing in, double-check the profile address before assuming that conversations or settings are missing.

If you have both a personal environment and a Team or Enterprise environment under the same address, check which environment is active. According to Anthropic, you can select it via the account menu.

Make sure to keep your personal account separate from your work account. This is especially helpful if you receive an invitation from your employer while you’re already using Claude for personal use.

Check active sessions and log out

According to Anthropic, you can view which devices and browsers you’re logged into in your account settings. The list includes device information, an estimated location, and recent activity.

You can deactivate a session you no longer need. This is useful when you’re replacing an old device or have been working on a shared computer.

The session guide describes this under “Account” and “Active Sessions” or “Where You’re Logged In.” Please note that an estimated location is based on an IP address and does not always reflect your exact place of residence.

Also, secure the login process itself. Anyone who logs in delivered instantly must properly protect access to that email account. With Google, securing your Google account is equally important.

What if I can’t log in or verify my account?

Start with the part that’s causing the problem. A missing email requires a different check than a rejected SMS code.

If you encounter an error, don’t immediately create a second account. First, note the exact error message and check the genuine explanation for that step. This will prevent your information from being spread across multiple accounts.

A handy pre-purchase check

You don’t have to understand every setting on the first day. This overview is enough to get you started:

1. Account: You know which email address and login method to use.
2. Language: Claude responds in the language and style you need.
3. Readability: colour and font settings are well-optimized.
4. Privacy: You have viewed the model improvement option.
5. Customization: You’ll understand which settings and memory options are active.
6. First result: You’ve completed and reviewed a small assignment.

You can then evaluate a subscription, project, or integration based on your specific needs. This way, your setup grows along with your usage.

Account and Settings Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to create a Claude account?

No. You can start with the free version. A paid subscription is a separate option for additional features or storage space.

Does Claude have a separate password?

According to the current sign-in guide, you cannot set a separate Claude password. You’ll use an available sign-in method, such as Google or a secure email link.

Is a phone number required?

According to the current verification guide, Anthropic requires brand new users to confirm a valid phone number. This step cannot be skipped.

Can I change my email address later?

According to Anthropic, it is currently not possible to easily change the associated email address. Therefore, when registering, choose an address that suits your needs and will remain accessible.

Can Claude respond in Dutch if the menus are in English?

Yes. The language used in communication is separate from the interface language. You can write in Dutch and include that preference in your personal instructions.

Will clearing the cache delete my calls?

No. Cache and chat history are different components. When managing data, read the instructions to see exactly which action is being performed.

Why do I see different settings than those in the manual?

Anthropic is updating the interface and rolling out features in phases. Device, subscription, and organization settings may also affect what you see.

Key Insights

• Start by visiting the genuine Claude website or app, and carefully choose the email address for your account.
• After registration, check your language settings, personal instructions, readability, and privacy preferences.
• Memory, chat history, and model improvement are separate settings with different consequences.
• Test your setup with a small, manageable task before adding more extensive features.
• Use the same account on other devices, and if content is missing, check your active work environment as well.