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To connect Claude Desktop to the BetterToken API, enable Developer Mode, open Configure Third-Party Inference, select Gateway, enter your BetterToken API Key and https://bettertoken.ai, choose x-api-key, then restart Claude Desktop. This direct setup is for the Claude provider only. For GPT, Codex, or another non-Claude provider, use the Claude Desktop custom API endpoint guide.

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Key settings

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Prerequisites

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Separate subscription from API billing

Gateway requests use your BetterToken API Key and BetterToken balance. They do not consume or extend a Claude subscription allowance. Treat the subscription and API as separate access and billing paths. Before you use the setup for real work:
  1. Create a dedicated BetterToken API Key for Claude Desktop.
  2. Send one short, non-sensitive test message through Gateway.
  3. Open the BetterToken Dashboard and confirm the model, status, input, output, cache Token, and charge.
  4. Revoke the Key and create a new one if it appears in a screenshot, repository, or public log.

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Install

Install or update to the latest version from the Claude Desktop website, then start Claude Desktop.

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Manual setup

1

Enable developer mode

In Claude Desktop, choose Help → Troubleshooting → Enable Developer Mode from the macOS menu bar.
Select Enable Developer Mode from the Claude Desktop Help menu.
Click Enable in the confirmation window, then restart Claude Desktop.
Confirm developer mode in Claude Desktop.
2

Open third-party inference settings

After the restart, choose Developer → Configure Third-Party Inference… from the macOS menu bar.
Choose Configure Third-Party Inference from the Developer menu.
3

Enter the BetterToken API settings

Select Gateway, then enter:Claude Desktop fetches the available Claude models after you select the auth scheme. Click Apply locally.
Enter the BetterToken Gateway Base URL, API Key, and authentication scheme in Claude Desktop.

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Verify the connection

Click Save & Restart. Select Continue with Gateway, then send a short message. The setup is active when Gateway appears in the lower-left corner and the message returns normally.
Claude Desktop is open through the BetterToken Gateway and ready to use.

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Switch models

Open the model selector and choose another Claude model returned by the Gateway. If the model is missing, reopen Configure Third-Party Inference…, click Apply locally, and restart Claude Desktop.

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Common errors

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Advanced setup

To use GPT, Kimi, GLM, or another non-Claude provider in Claude Desktop, follow the Claude Desktop tab in CC Switch. CC Switch handles the API Format, model mapping, proxy, and restart flow.

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Supported providers

Statuses apply to the BetterToken setup documented on this page.
  • Advanced setup: install CC Switch and use a local proxy, protocol conversion, or model mapping.
  • Manual setup: enter the API Key, Base URL, and Model.

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Technical details

Use the Anthropic-compatible https://bettertoken.ai as Gateway base URL without /v1. Select x-api-key as the authentication scheme.