> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.aihubmix.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Claude Desktop × AIHubMix Setup Guide

> Use AIHubMix in Claude Desktop: drive the client without an Anthropic account login, entirely point-and-click, and call Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek and more through a single API key with flexible pay-as-you-go billing.

> Applies to: Claude Desktop 1.3883.0 (Updated: April 23, 2026)\
> Level: Beginner — no command line required, fully click-based, no Anthropic account needed

## Introduction

**Claude Desktop** (enterprise version known as Claude Cowork) supports connecting to third-party LLM gateways, letting you use the client without an Anthropic subscription.

This guide walks you through configuring AIHubMix as the API provider for Claude Desktop, enabling:

* No Anthropic account required — bypasses phone number / email registration restrictions
* Access to Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, and more through a single AIHubMix key
* Pay-as-you-go billing, flexible and cost-controlled

***

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

* **Operating System:** macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later, or Windows 10 / 11
* **AIHubMix Account:** Register and top up at [aihubmix.com](https://aihubmix.com)

***

## Step 1: Get Your AIHubMix API Key

1. Visit [aihubmix.com](https://aihubmix.com) and log in
2. Go to the console → **API Keys** page
3. Click **Create New Key**, enter a name (e.g. `claude-desktop`)
4. Copy the generated key (format: `sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx`)

> **Security notice:** The API Key is only shown once. Save it somewhere safe immediately.

***

## Step 2: Download and Install Claude Desktop

1. Visit the official download page: [claude.ai/download](https://claude.ai/download)
2. Download the installer for your operating system

**macOS:**

* Open the downloaded `.dmg` file
* Drag `Claude.app` into the `Applications` folder
* Open Claude from Launchpad or the Applications folder

**Windows:**

* Run the downloaded `.msix` installer
* Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation
* Open Claude from the Start menu

> **Note: You do not need to log in to an Anthropic account after opening. Proceed directly to the next step.**

***

## Step 3: Enable Developer Mode and Configure AIHubMix

You need to enable Developer Mode before connecting a third-party API:

1. Open the Claude Desktop app
2. Click **Help** in the top menu bar
3. Select **Troubleshooting**
4. Click **Enable Developer mode**
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5. Once enabled, a new **Developer** menu will appear in the top menu bar.

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  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aihubmix/HYvdaCIBLe6vZmYS/images/image-49.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HYvdaCIBLe6vZmYS&q=85&s=b2b603895bdf8b4aee70097587be0b20" alt="Image" width="1354" height="1476" data-path="images/image-49.png" />
</Frame>

6. Click **Developer** in the menu bar, then select **Configure third-party inference**

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</Frame>

7. **Fill in the following fields in the configuration dialog:**

**Connection** — Gateway (Anthropic-compatible)

**Gateway Base URL** — AIHubMix service endpoint

```text theme={null}
https://aihubmix.com
```

**Gateway API Key** — Your AIHubMix API Key

```text theme={null}
sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```

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8. **Click Apply locally → Relaunch**

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  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aihubmix/HYvdaCIBLe6vZmYS/images/img_v3_02111_1bf57885-9883-46d1-81b1-4a1c4b45bb1g-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HYvdaCIBLe6vZmYS&q=85&s=654eeeffbe512c11e493d73726d52ba0" alt="Img V3 02111 1bf57885 9883 46d1 81b1 4a1c4b45bb1g" width="1806" height="1430" data-path="images/img_v3_02111_1bf57885-9883-46d1-81b1-4a1c4b45bb1g-1.png" />
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9. After restarting, select **Continue with Gateway** on the screen below

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aihubmix/HYvdaCIBLe6vZmYS/images/img_v3_02111_e41b4400-e68c-4c63-ac88-434d2e69693g.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=HYvdaCIBLe6vZmYS&q=85&s=e5fc1e7e295ccbae0b86dfbb07665414" alt="Img V3 02111 E41b4400 E68c 4c63 Ac88 434d2e69693g" width="1140" height="1044" data-path="images/img_v3_02111_e41b4400-e68c-4c63-ac88-434d2e69693g.jpg" />
</Frame>

***

## Step 4: Configure Models and Verify

In Gateway mode, Claude Desktop constrains model names to Claude style — **model names must start with `claude-`**, so you cannot enter real model names like `gpt`, `gemini`, or `deepseek` directly, or the dropdown will have no usable models. The fix is **model-name mapping**: the client uses a `claude-`-prefixed alias, and you map that alias to a real model on your AIHubMix Key.

**① Configure the mapping on your AIHubMix Key**

Open the [AIHubMix Key management page](https://console.aihubmix.com/token), create or edit a Key, and add "alias → real model" entries in the `Model name mapping` section:

```text theme={null}
claude-g-p-t-5.5 -> gpt-5.5
claude-gemi-3.1 -> gemini-3.1-pro-preview
claude-depsek-v4 -> deepseek-v4-flash
```

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aihubmix/f2xuPZ5QhzR5YO-z/images/api/model-mapping-fallback/optimized-aihubmix-mapping-fallback.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=f2xuPZ5QhzR5YO-z&q=85&s=f4b00d9392919b98919b680e1288e7a1" alt="Configuring model name mapping in the AIHubMix dashboard" width="400" data-path="images/api/model-mapping-fallback/optimized-aihubmix-mapping-fallback.png" />
</Frame>

**② Enter the aliases in Claude Desktop's Model list**

Here you enter the pre-mapping `claude-` aliases — the model names Claude Desktop sends to AIHubMix, not the real upstream model names:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aihubmix/f2xuPZ5QhzR5YO-z/images/api/model-mapping-fallback/optimized-claude-model-list.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=f2xuPZ5QhzR5YO-z&q=85&s=5a7b9f3c57502b3a9a9f807e1799da07" alt="Claude Desktop Model list with the pre-mapping aliases" width="1000" height="625" data-path="images/api/model-mapping-fallback/optimized-claude-model-list.png" />
</Frame>

Once configured, these aliases appear in the Claude Desktop model dropdown for selection:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aihubmix/f2xuPZ5QhzR5YO-z/images/api/model-mapping-fallback/optimized-claude-model-picker-compact.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=f2xuPZ5QhzR5YO-z&q=85&s=a3a18c6d1316ba1aab73ff787e9e0547" alt="Claude Desktop model dropdown showing the configured alias models" width="1105" height="612" data-path="images/api/model-mapping-fallback/optimized-claude-model-picker-compact.png" />
</Frame>

Naming tips:

* Use a `claude-` prefix for the `Model ID`.
* Do not write real model family names like `gpt`, `gemini`, or `deepseek` directly; use aliases such as `g-p-t`, `gemi`, `depsek`.
* The `Model ID` must match the left side of the AIHubMix mapping **character for character**, otherwise the request won't hit the mapping.

> For more — automatically switching to a backup model when the primary fails, billing by the final responding model, and so on — see [Model Mapping and Fallback](https://docs.aihubmix.com/en/api/Model-Mapping-Fallback).

> **Note: The default model is Claude Opus 4.7, which has higher pricing** and can lead to significant costs for everyday use. We recommend switching to another model. AIHubMix offers a wide range of cost-effective and free models — view the full list at [aihubmix.com/models](https://aihubmix.com/models).

Once configured, restart Claude Desktop and verify:

* The **Cowork** tab appears in the left navigation panel
* You can send messages and receive responses normally
* The model name shown in the bottom-right corner matches the model you configured
  <Frame>
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/aihubmix/4hgEUfIX29E20QAD/images/image-59.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=4hgEUfIX29E20QAD&q=85&s=aa317bc8e272ec27c7b3c352d261448c" alt="Image" width="2998" height="1642" data-path="images/image-59.png" />
  </Frame>

Congratulations! You're now using Claude Desktop with your own configured models, powered by AIHubMix.

***

## Troubleshooting

### Error on Launch / Cannot Connect

**Checklist:**

1. Confirm the connection type is set to `gateway` (not `bedrock` / `vertex`)
2. Check that the Base URL is `https://aihubmix.com` (no trailing slash)
3. Verify the API Key was copied in full (must start with `sk-`)
4. Make sure your AIHubMix account has sufficient balance

**View logs:**

* macOS: Open **Console.app**, filter by `Claude`
* Windows: Open **Event Viewer**

***

### Model Not Found Error

Make sure the model ID you entered is available on AIHubMix. You can query the available model list via API:

```bash theme={null}
curl https://aihubmix.com/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-api-key"
```

***

### Which Auth Scheme Should I Use?

AIHubMix uses the `x-api-key` authentication header. If you encounter a 401 error, try switching to `bearer`.

***

## Advanced: Export Configuration File (Optional)

After completing setup, you can export the configuration for backup or team distribution:

**macOS** — Click **Export** in the config UI to download a `.mobileconfig` file\
**Windows** — Click **Export** in the config UI to download a `.reg` registry file

***

## Related Resources

* [AIHubMix Documentation](https://docs.aihubmix.com)
* [AIHubMix Claude Native API Reference](https://docs.aihubmix.com/en/api/Claude-Native)
* [Claude Desktop Official Third-Party Platform Guide](https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/claude-cowork-with-third-party-platforms)
* [Claude Desktop Download Page](https://claude.ai/download)

***

*Last updated: April 23, 2026 | Based on Anthropic official docs + AIHubMix API documentation*

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