Claude Desktop × AIHubMix Setup Guide

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

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Introduction

• 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

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Prerequisites

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

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Step 1: Get Your AIHubMix API Key

1. Visit 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.

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Step 2: Download and Install Claude Desktop

1. Visit the official download page: claude.ai/download
2. Download the installer for your operating system

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

• 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.

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Step 3: Enable Developer Mode and Configure AIHubMix

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

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

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

https://aihubmix.com

sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

8. Click Apply locally → Relaunch

9. After restarting, select Continue with Gateway on the screen below

10. Configuration complete — select a model

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.

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Step 4: Verify the Installation

• 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 your selection
  

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Troubleshooting

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Error on Launch / Cannot Connect

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

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

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Model Not Found Error

curl https://aihubmix.com/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-api-key"

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Which Auth Scheme Should I Use?

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Advanced: Export Configuration File (Optional)

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Related Resources

• AIHubMix Documentation
• AIHubMix Claude Native API Reference
• Claude Desktop Official Third-Party Platform Guide
• Claude Desktop Download Page