cline/docs/getting-started/installing-cline.mdx

---
title: "Installing Cline"
description: "Get Cline up and running in your favorite IDE with these simple installation steps"
---

<Note>
**Ready to get started?** Installation takes less than 2 minutes! Choose your editor below and follow the simple steps.
</Note>

## Before You Begin

<CardGroup cols={1}>
  <Card title="Create Your Account" icon="user-plus" href="https://app.cline.bot/login">
    Sign up for a **free Cline account** to get:
    - Access to multiple AI models including stealth models
    - Seamless setup without managing API keys
    - Occasional free inferencing through partner providers
  </Card>
  
  <Card title="Have a Compatible Editor" icon="code">
    Cline works with:
    - **VS Code** / **Cursor**
    - **JetBrains IDEs** (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.)
    - **VSCodium** / **Windsurf**
    
    Install one before proceeding.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Installation Instructions
<Tabs>
  <Tab title="VS Code/Cursor" icon="code">
    <Frame>
      <img
      	src="https://storage.googleapis.com/cline_public_images/vscode.png"
      	alt="VS Code logo"
      	style={{ width: "100px", height: "auto", display: "block" }}
      />
    </Frame>
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Extensions">
        Launch VS Code and open the Extensions view:
        - Press `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + X`, or
        - Click the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar
      </Step>

      <Step title="Search for Cline">
        Type **"Cline"** in the Extensions marketplace search bar
        	<Frame>
            <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/cline_public_images/extension-installation.png" alt="VS Code marketplace showing Cline extension" 
            />
          </Frame>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Install">
        Click the **Install** button on the Cline extension
        
        <Frame caption="VS Code marketplace with Cline extension ready to install">
        	<img
        		src="https://storage.googleapis.com/cline_public_images/docs/assets/image%20(20).png"
        		alt="VS Code marketplace showing Cline extension"
        	/>
        </Frame>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Access Cline">
        After installation completes:
        - Click the **Cline icon** in the Activity Bar, or
        - Open Command Palette (`Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P`) → type **"Cline: Open In New Tab"**

        <Frame caption="Cline opened in VSCode">
        	<img
        		src="https://storage.googleapis.com/cline_public_images/after-installation.png"
        		alt="Cline opened in VSCode"
        	/>
        </Frame>
        
        <Warning>
        If VS Code shows "Running extensions might..." dialog, click **Allow**. If you don't see the Cline icon, restart VS Code.
        </Warning>
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    <Check>
    **Installation Complete!** You should now see the Cline interface in your editor. Time to sign in!
    </Check>

    <Accordion title="Troubleshooting">

    **Plugin Installation Issues**

    If you can't find Cline in the marketplace:
    - Make sure you're searching in the **Marketplace** tab (not Installed)
    - Try searching for "Cline AI" or just "Cline"
    - Check that your VS Code version is compatible

    If installation fails:
    - Restart your VS Code and try again
    - Check your internet connection
    - Try installing from VSIX file as an alternative

    **Plugin Not Appearing**

    If you don't see the Cline tool window after installation:
    - Restart VS Code completely (File → Exit and reopen)
    - Check **View** → **Command Palette** → "Cline: Open In New Tab"
    - Verify the plugin is enabled in **Extensions** view
    - Look for the Cline icon in your Activity Bar (usually on the left side)

    **Common Issues**

    Plugin appears to be installed but doesn't work:
    - Ensure you've restarted VS Code after installation
    - Check if there are any error messages in the Developer Console
    - Try disabling and re-enabling the extension

    Performance or compatibility issues:
    - Make sure you're using a supported VS Code version
    - Check for VS Code updates that might improve compatibility
    - Consider closing other resource-intensive extensions if needed

    Need help? Join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/cline).

    </Accordion>
  </Tab>
  
  <Tab title="JetBrains IDEs" icon="brain">
    <img
    	src="https://storage.googleapis.com/cline_public_images/docs/assets/jetbrains-logo.svg"
    	alt="JetBrains logo"
    	style={{ width: "200px", height: "auto", margin: "0 auto 20px auto", display: "block" }}
    />

    <Note>
    Cline for JetBrains works almost identically to VS Code, with all core features: diff editing, tools, multiple API providers, MCP servers, Cline rules/workflows, and more.
    </Note>

    ### Choose Your Installation Method

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="From IDE (Recommended)">
        <Steps>
          <Step title="Open Settings">
            In your JetBrains IDE, go to **Settings**:
            - Windows/Linux: `Ctrl+Alt+S`
            - macOS: `Cmd+,`
          </Step>

          <Step title="Navigate to Plugins">
            Go to **Plugins** → **Marketplace** tab
          </Step>

          <Step title="Install Cline">
            Search for **"Cline"** and click **Install**
            
            <Frame>
            	<img
            		src="https://storage.googleapis.com/cline_public_images/jetbrains-installation.png"
            		alt="JetBrains marketplace showing Cline plugin search results"
            	/>
            </Frame>
          </Step>

          <Step title="Restart IDE">
            Restart your IDE to complete the installation
            <Frame>
            	<img
            		src="https://storage.googleapis.com/cline_public_images/jetbrains-post-installation.png"
            		alt="JetBrains marketplace showing Cline plugin search results"
            	/>
            </Frame>
          </Step>
        </Steps>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Browser Install">
        <Steps>
          <Step title="Visit Marketplace">
            Go to the [JetBrains Marketplace](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/28247-cline)
          </Step>

          <Step title="Click Install to IDE">
            Click the **Install to IDE** button
          </Step>

          <Step title="Confirm in IDE">
            Your IDE will open and prompt you to confirm the installation
          </Step>

          <Step title="Restart IDE">
            Restart to complete the installation
          </Step>
        </Steps>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Manual Install">
        <Steps>
          <Step title="Download Plugin">
            Download from the [marketplace page](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/28247-cline)
          </Step>

          <Step title="Open Settings">
            Go to **Settings** → **Plugins**
          </Step>

          <Step title="Install from Disk">
            Click the gear icon → **Install Plugin from Disk**
          </Step>

          <Step title="Select File & Restart">
            Select the downloaded `.zip` file and restart your IDE
          </Step>
        </Steps>
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    <Check>
    **Installation Complete!** Find Cline in **View** → **Tool Windows** → **Cline** (usually on the right side).
    </Check>

    ### What Works in JetBrains

    <AccordionGroup>
      <Accordion title="✅ All Core Features" defaultOpen>
        - Diff editing and file modifications
        - Multiple API providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, local models)
        - MCP servers and custom tools
        - Cline rules and workflows
        - @ mentions for files, folders, and problems
        - Drag & drop support
      </Accordion>

      <Accordion title="📋 Terminal Integration Difference">
        **JetBrains shows terminal output differently than VS Code:**
        - VS Code: Output streams directly to chat
        - JetBrains: Output appears in collapsible "Command Output" sections
        
        Commands execute successfully in both—just expand the section to see results in JetBrains.
      </Accordion>
    </AccordionGroup>

    <Accordion title="Troubleshooting">

    **Plugin Installation Issues**

    If you can't find Cline in the marketplace:
    - Make sure you're searching in the **Marketplace** tab (not Installed)
    - Try searching for "Cline AI" or just "Cline"
    - Check that your IDE version is compatible (2023.1 or later recommended)

    If installation fails:
    - Restart your IDE and try again
    - Check your internet connection
    - Try installing from disk as an alternative

    **Plugin Not Appearing**

    If you don't see the Cline tool window after installation:
    - Restart your IDE completely (File → Exit and reopen)
    - Check **View** → **Tool Windows** → **Cline**
    - Verify the plugin is enabled in **Settings** → **Plugins** → **Installed** tab
    - Look for the Cline icon in your IDE's tool window bar (usually on the right side)

    **Common Issues**

    Plugin appears to be installed but doesn't work:
    - Ensure you've restarted your IDE after installation
    - Check if there are any error messages in the IDE's event log
    - Try disabling and re-enabling the plugin in Settings

    Performance or compatibility issues:
    - Make sure you're using a supported JetBrains IDE version
    - Check for IDE updates that might improve compatibility
    - Consider allocating more memory to your IDE if needed

    Need help? Join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/cline).

    </Accordion>
  </Tab>
  
  <Tab title="VSCodium/Windsurf" icon="terminal">
    <Note>
    These editors use the **Open VSX Registry** instead of the VS Code Marketplace, but the installation process is nearly identical.
    </Note>

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Extensions">
        Launch your editor (VSCodium, Windsurf, etc.) and open Extensions view:
        - Press `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + X`
      </Step>

      <Step title="Search for Cline">
        Type **"Cline"** in the marketplace search bar
      </Step>

      <Step title="Install by Author">
        Select **"Cline" by saoudrizwan** and click **Install**
      </Step>

      <Step title="Reload if Needed">
        Reload your editor if prompted to complete installation
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    <Check>
    **Installation Complete!** Look for the Cline icon in your Activity Bar or use the Command Palette.
    </Check>

    <Accordion title="Troubleshooting">

    **Plugin Installation Issues**

    If you can't find Cline in the marketplace:
    - Make sure you're searching in the **Marketplace** tab (not Installed)
    - Try searching for "Cline AI" or just "Cline"
    - Check that your editor version is compatible

    If installation fails:
    - Restart your editor and try again
    - Check your internet connection
    - Try installing from disk as an alternative

    **Plugin Not Appearing**

    If you don't see the Cline tool window after installation:
    - Restart your editor completely (File → Exit and reopen)
    - Check **View** → **Command Palette** → "Cline: Open In New Tab"
    - Verify the plugin is enabled in **Extensions** view
    - Look for the Cline icon in your Activity Bar (usually on the left side)

    **Common Issues**

    Plugin appears to be installed but doesn't work:
    - Ensure you've restarted your editor after installation
    - Check if there are any error messages in the Developer Console
    - Try disabling and re-enabling the extension

    Performance or compatibility issues:
    - Make sure you're using a supported editor version
    - Check for editor updates that might improve compatibility
    - Consider closing other resource-intensive extensions if needed

    Need help? Join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/cline).

    </Accordion>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Next Steps: Sign In & Start Building

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Cline">
    Find and open Cline in your editor:
    - **VS Code/Cursor/VSCodium/Windsurf:** Click the Cline icon in the Activity Bar
    - **JetBrains:** Go to **View** → **Tool Windows** → **Cline**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign In">
    Click the **Sign Up** button in the Cline interface
    
    <Info>
    You'll be redirected to [app.cline.bot](https://app.cline.bot) to authenticate. After signing in, you'll automatically return to your editor.
    </Info>
    <Info>
    You'll be redirected to the Cline authentication page to sign in with your account.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="You're All Set!">
    <Check>
    **Congratulations!** You're all set to start using Cline! 
    
    Cline is now ready to help you build projects. 
    </Check>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips for Success

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Ask Questions" icon="circle-question">
    Don't know something? Ask in Plan Mode! Cline can explain concepts, debug errors, and guide you through tasks.
  </Card>
  
  <Card title="Use Screenshots" icon="image">
    Some models understand screenshots of what you're working on or errors you encounter.
  </Card>
  
  <Card title="Share Error Messages" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    Use @problems to share error messages for quick solutions and debugging help.
  </Card>
  
  <Card title="Speak Naturally" icon="comments">
    Use your own words—no need for technical jargon. Cline will translate your ideas into code.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Need Help?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Join Our Discord" icon="discord" href="https://discord.gg/cline">
    Connect with our team and community for support, tips, and discussions.
  </Card>
  
  <Card title="Read the Docs" icon="book-open" href="/getting-started/selecting-your-model">
    Explore model selection guides and advanced features to get the most out of Cline.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>