Set up Claude Code with Virouter API

One-command setup

Paste your Virouter API key into the command below. The installer updates ~/.claude/settings.json, preserves any existing settings, and creates a timestamped backup before writing.

# Windows Command Prompt / PowerShell
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "iwr https://virouter.com/install/claude-code.ps1 -OutFile $env:TEMP\virouter-claude-code.ps1; & $env:TEMP\virouter-claude-code.ps1 -ApiKey 'vr_sk_xxxxxxxxxxxx'"

# macOS / Linux / Git Bash
curl -fsSL https://virouter.com/install/claude-code.sh | sh -s -- vr_sk_xxxxxxxxxxxx

# Then restart Claude Code
claude

The script does not print your full key. You can also run it with VIROUTER_API_KEY if you prefer not to put the key in shell history.

export VIROUTER_API_KEY="vr_sk_xxxxxxxxxxxx"
curl -fsSL https://virouter.com/install/claude-code.sh | sh

Manual setup

Run Claude Code from a terminal where these environment variables are set.

export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.virouter.com"
export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="$VIROUTER_API_KEY"

# Optional: let Claude Code list Claude models exposed by Virouter
export CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_GATEWAY_MODEL_DISCOVERY=1

claude

Setup checklist

Claude Code settings file option

If you prefer Claude Code settings over shell exports, store the same variables in your Claude Code settings. Keep the API key out of git and team-shared dotfiles. You can also download the installer script and inspect it before running.

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.virouter.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "vr_sk_xxxxxxxxxxxx",
    "CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_GATEWAY_MODEL_DISCOVERY": "1"
  }
}

Verify with the Anthropic Messages endpoint

Claude Code sends Anthropic Messages requests. You can smoke test the same route with cURL before starting Claude Code.

curl https://api.virouter.com/v1/messages \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VIROUTER_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -d '{
    "model": "claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "max_tokens": 128,
    "messages": [{"role":"user","content":"Say ok"}]
  }'

Model discovery

Claude Code can discover gateway models from /v1/models when CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_GATEWAY_MODEL_DISCOVERY=1 is set. Virouter returns only active models allowed for your key.

curl https://api.virouter.com/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VIROUTER_API_KEY"

Billing and usage visibility

Claude Code requests through Virouter charge your Billing USD Quota and appear in the Virouter dashboard usage log. Successful responses include gateway cost and token headers such as x-virouter-cost-usd, x-virouter-remaining-usd, and token breakdown headers.

Troubleshooting