Set up your Claude Code folder

Before your first real session, set up a dedicated directory for your Claude Code projects. This organizes your workspace and secures your system.

Why Folder Setup Matters

When you start a Claude Code session, Claude only has access to the directory it was started in and the files/subfolders inside it. It cannot read or modify files outside of that scope. This is an essential security sandbox.

• Start Claude in your home folder, and it can access your whole system.
• Start Claude in a project-specific folder, and it is safely confined to that project.

Rule of thumb: Always start Claude Code inside the specific project folder you want to work on—never in your home directory or root Desktop folder.

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Create a Dedicated, Synced Folder Structure

Create a parent folder called Claude Code inside a cloud-synced drive (like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud) to ensure you never lose your files.

terminal
Claude Code/
├── client-reports/
│   └── q1-performance/
├── email-campaigns/
│   └── weekly-newsletter/
└── landing-pages/
    └── product-launch/

Inside this parent folder, create subfolders for each individual campaign, website, or script. Each subfolder represents a clean, isolated project.

Enable Automated Hourly Backups

Cloud syncing mirrors deletions and corruptions. To protect your work, configure automated hourly local backups:

• Mac (Time Machine): Connect an external drive and turn on backups in System Settings > General > Time Machine.
• Windows (File History): Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup and select your Claude Code directory.

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Open Terminal in a Folder (The Easy Way)

You want to start your terminal session directly inside a project folder without typing complex paths.

Mac: Right-Click "New Terminal at Folder"

Enable the built-in macOS Finder service shortcut:

1. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Services.
2. Expand Files and Folders and check New Terminal at Folder.
3. Now, right-click any folder in Finder, select Services > New Terminal at Folder, type claude and press Enter.

Windows: Right-Click "Open in Terminal"

Windows includes this shortcut out of the box:

1. In File Explorer, navigate to your project folder.
2. Right-click the folder (or right-click inside an empty space in the directory).
3. Select Open in Terminal.
4. A terminal window opens inside that directory. Type claude and press Enter.

The Drag-and-Drop Fallback

If shortcuts are unavailable, use this fallback:

1. Open your terminal app.
2. Type cd (with a trailing space).
3. Drag your project folder from Finder or File Explorer directly into the terminal window—the path automatically pastes.
4. Press Enter, then type claude to start.

Exercises

1. Create a Claude Code parent directory inside your cloud-synced folder (Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive).
2. Create a test subfolder named my-first-project inside it.
3. Enable the terminal right-click shortcut for your OS (Mac or Windows).
4. Right-click the my-first-project folder and open a terminal inside it. Run pwd (Mac/Linux) or pwd in Git Bash to confirm the terminal is positioned correctly inside the folder.