claude-usage-bar is an app designed to show your Claude API usage quickly. It sits in your macOS menu bar so you can see usage data without opening the full dashboard.

This guide explains how to download and run claude-usage-bar on Windows. It covers system preparation, installation, and starting the app. You do not need programming skills or command line knowledge to follow along.

To run claude-usage-bar on Windows, make sure your computer matches these requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 10 or later (64-bit recommended)
• Processor: Intel or AMD processor with at least 1.6 GHz speed
• Memory: 4 GB of RAM or more
• Disk Space: 100 MB free space for installation
• Internet: Connection needed to fetch usage data from Claude API

Before you download the app, you need a Claude API key. The key links the app with your usage data.

If you don’t have an API key, visit Claude’s official website to create one. Once you have the key, keep it handy. You will enter it when you run the app.

You will download the app from the official GitHub page. Follow these steps to install claude-usage-bar on your Windows PC.

Go to the release page using this link:

This page lists all available versions of claude-usage-bar for different platforms.

Look for the latest release. Under the release notes, find the download for Windows. It may have a name like:

• claude-usage-bar-windows.exe
• or something similar ending with .exe

Click the file link to start downloading. If your browser asks to confirm, choose "Save" or "Keep."

Once the file finishes downloading, open your downloads folder.

Double-click the .exe file to start the installation. Windows may show a security message; select “Run” or “Yes” to continue.

Follow the on-screen instructions:

• Choose the folder where the app installed (the default is usually fine).
• Wait while the setup copies files to your computer.

When the installation ends, you can launch the app immediately or find it in the Start menu.

After installation, start claude-usage-bar from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

The app runs in the background and shows an icon in your Windows system tray (near the clock).

Click the icon once to open the main window.

The app will ask for your Claude API key on the first run.

• Paste your key into the input box.
• Click “Save” or “Connect.”

The app now connects to Claude’s API and starts showing your current usage.

The main window displays these details:

• Daily Usage: How many API calls or tokens you have used today.
• Monthly Usage: Total usage for the current month.
• Limits: Maximum allowed usage based on your Claude plan.
• Refresh Button: Updates the data on demand.

The app refreshes usage data every 10 minutes automatically.

claude-usage-bar lets you change settings to fit your needs.

You can choose to get alerts when your usage nears your plan limit.

• Select the notification threshold (e.g., 80%, 90%).
• Choose system notifications or a simple message.

Change how usage data appears:

• Show values as numbers or percentages.
• Select light or dark mode for the app window.

Enable or disable starting claude-usage-bar when your PC turns on.

If the app does not work as expected, try these steps:

• Check internet connection. The app needs access to Claude’s API.
• Make sure your API key is correct and active.
• Restart the app. Close it from the system tray and open it again.
• Update to the latest version from the release page.
• If the app crashes, reinstall using the downloaded .exe file.

• Keep your Claude API key safe and do not share it with others.
• If your usage does not update, click the refresh button manually.
• The app runs quietly in the background so it won’t slow down your PC.
• Use the system tray icon to open or close the app as needed.

• Visit the release page anytime to get the latest version:
  Download claude-usage-bar

• Claude API official site (for managing your account and keys).

Use these steps to monitor your Claude API usage easily from your Windows desktop.