Claude Tutorial: Registration, Account Linking, and Switching Made Easy

Claude is one of the leading large language model tools available today, supporting web, mobile, and API access. Many new users get stuck during registration, device linking, or switching between accounts. This tutorial walks you through the entire process from scratch, so you can start using Claude with confidence.

How to Register a Claude Account

Go to the official Claude website (claude.ai) and click "Get Started" to enter the registration page. We recommend using a Google or Outlook email address. QQ email from China may occasionally fail to receive verification emails. After entering your email, the system will send a verification message—click the link to activate your account. Note that Claude currently does not support direct registration with a Chinese mainland phone number. You can use an international SMS platform or ask a friend overseas to receive the verification code for you. If you already have an Anthropic account, you can log in with the same email.

Account Linking and Multi-Platform Login

Once logged into Claude, it is strongly advised to link a phone number immediately—this enhances account security. Go to the "Security" section in settings and add a phone number to enable two-factor authentication. Claude supports linking multiple devices, such as logging in on your work computer, home laptop, and mobile phone simultaneously. In addition, Claude Pro users can associate third-party apps via an API key. Generate a key in the settings and copy it to the corresponding tool. Keep in mind: each key can only be bound to one app; exceeding this limit may trigger security restrictions.

Switching Accounts and Managing Multiple Accounts

If you need to maintain multiple Claude accounts (e.g., a personal account and a team account), switching is straightforward. On the web version, click your avatar in the top-right corner, select "Log Out," and then log in with another account. On mobile, go to settings and tap "Sign Out." For frequent switchers, we recommend using your browser's multi-user mode or Chrome's "Profile" feature. This way, each new window opens with a different account, saving you from repeatedly entering passwords. Note that Claude currently does not support unified "Add Account" management—each account must log in separately.

Common Registration Issues and Troubleshooting

The most common errors during registration are "Invalid phone number" and "Verification code expired." The first usually occurs because you used a virtual number or one that has been blocked. Try a legitimate international phone number instead. The second is because the verification code is only valid for 5 minutes—ask for a new one if it expires. If you never receive the verification email, check your spam folder and add no-reply@anthropic.com to your whitelist. Some users also report that after registering on mobile, they cannot log in on the web. This is often caused by browser cache issues—clearing cookies usually resolves it.