How to Create a Claude Account and Start a New Project

Overview

Before using Copy Viking resources inside Claude, you need to create a Claude account and set up your first project. This article walks you through creating a Claude account, choosing the free plan, and creating a new personal project where you can later add files, instructions, or project knowledge.

Step 1: Go to Claude

Open your browser.
Go to Claude. Full link: https://claude.ai/new
If you are not already logged in, Claude will show the login screen.

From this screen, you can either continue with Google or enter your email address.

Step 2: Create or log in to your Claude account

If you want to use Google:

Click Continue with Google.
Choose the Google account you want to use.
Follow the Google sign-in prompts.

If you want to use email instead:

Enter your email address in the email field.
Click Continue with email.
Follow the verification steps Claude sends you.

Step 3: Review Claude’s account terms

When prompted, Claude may ask you to review a few account terms.

Tick the required checkbox confirming that you agree to Anthropic’s terms and policies and that you are at least 18 years old.
Leave promotional emails unchecked if you do not want to receive them.
Click Create account.

Step 4: Choose your Claude plan

Claude may show available plans during setup.

Choose Use Claude for free if you want to start with the free plan.
If prompted to download Claude for desktop, you can skip that step and continue in your browser.
Continue through the onboarding screens.

You can upgrade later if you need higher usage limits or additional features.

Step 5: Complete first-time setup

Claude may ask a few setup questions before your first chat.

Review the first-chat information screen.
Choose your preference for any optional training or privacy setting shown.
Click Continue.
When asked for your name, enter the name you want Claude to use.
Click Continue again.

You should now arrive at the main Claude chat screen.

Step 6: Open Projects

Once you are on the main Claude screen:

Look at the left-hand sidebar.
Click the Projects icon.
Choose the option to create a new project.

Projects help organize your work and allow Claude to reference files, instructions, and knowledge across related conversations.

Step 7: Create a personal project

In the project name field, enter a clear project name.
- Example: First Novel.
In the description field, briefly describe what the project is for.
- Example: writing a novel, building a sales page, creating customer emails, or working through a specific Copy Viking framework.
Click Create project.

After the project is created, Claude will open the project workspace.

What you will see inside the project

Inside a Claude project, you will usually see:

A project chat box where you can start conversations.
An Instructions area where you can add project-specific guidance.
A Files area where you can upload documents or resources.

This is the workspace you will use when adding Copy Viking frameworks or project files in later steps.

Troubleshooting

I already have a Claude account

You do not need to create a new account. Log in with your existing Claude account, then go to Projects from the left-hand sidebar.

I do not see the same plan options

Claude’s plan names, pricing, and onboarding screens may change over time. Choose the free option if you want to start without upgrading, or follow the option that best matches your needs.

I cannot find the Projects icon

Check the left-hand sidebar inside Claude. If the sidebar is collapsed, open or expand it first. The Projects icon may appear as a small folder or project-style icon.

I accidentally skipped something during setup

That is usually fine. Most setup options can be adjusted later from your Claude account settings or inside the project itself.

I cannot create a project

Make sure you are fully logged in and have completed Claude’s first-time account setup. If the button is unavailable, refresh the page and try again.