One Folder, One Project

Claude Lives Where You Start It

Here’s the most important idea in this note.

When you type claude, Claude Code starts in the folder the terminal is standing in. That folder becomes its whole world:

• It can see and change the files in that folder (and the folders inside it).
• It reads that folder’s notebook, a file called CLAUDE.md (next note).
• It keeps that folder’s chat history, separate from every other folder.

So the rule is simple:

One folder per project. Always start Claude inside that folder.

If you start Claude in the wrong folder, it can’t see your project, and it won’t remember your chats about it. It’s in the wrong room.

Making a Project Folder

You don’t need any terminal commands for this. Just use File Explorer, the normal Windows folder window you already know.

First, make one projects folder to keep all your projects together, for example inside Documents. You only do this once.

Then, for each new project:

1. Open your projects folder in File Explorer.
2. Right-click an empty space, choose New, then Folder. Name it something short, like my-website.
3. Double-click the new folder to go inside. It’s empty, and that’s fine.
4. Right-click an empty space inside it, and choose Open in Terminal.
5. A terminal opens, already standing inside your project folder. Type claude and press Enter.

Right-click, Open in Terminal, type claude. That’s how you start every work session, on every project.

Tip: you can check where the terminal is standing by looking at the line where you type. It ends with your folder’s name, just before the >.

Give Claude Your Stuff

Because Claude works inside the folder, the easiest way to give it anything is to put it in the folder.

• Photos you want on your site
• Text you’ve written, like an about me
• Screenshots of websites you love
• Your logo, a color palette, anything

Just drag them into the folder in File Explorer. Then tell Claude about them:

Use the photos in this folder for the gallery page.

Want Claude to look at one specific file? Type @ and the start of its name, and pick it from the list:

Make the About section match the tone of @about-me.txt

Anything in the folder, Claude can use. It’s the easiest way to give it context (the background information it needs to do a good job).

Coming Back Tomorrow

Your chats are saved per folder. To pick up where you left off:

1. Open your project folder in File Explorer.
2. Right-click an empty space, and choose Open in Terminal.
3. Type claude -c and press Enter.

• claude -c continues your most recent chat in this folder.
• Want an older chat instead? Type claude, then /resume, and pick from a list of this folder’s chats.

Hi! Which folder are you working in right now, and what files can you see?