CC Switch Beginner Guide: One API Key for OpenClaw, OpenCode, Hermes, and Claude Code (2026)

CC Switch Beginner Guide: One API Key for OpenClaw, OpenCode, Hermes, and Claude Code (2026)

New to Claude Code and want to route through ClaudeAPI.com—but not sure which config files to edit? This tutorial is for you.

CC Switch is one of the most popular Claude Code configuration managers on GitHub (68K+ stars). It replaces hand-editing JSON/TOML with a visual UI so you can switch API providers in one click. Below is the full path from signup to a working call.

What is CC Switch?

CC Switch is a cross-platform desktop app (Windows / macOS / Linux) that centralizes API settings for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, and related AI coding tools.

In one line: you no longer hunt for settings.json or memorize env vars. Open CC Switch, paste your API key, click Activate—done.

Core features:

Prerequisite: install the four managed CLIs

CC Switch only reads, writes, and switches each tool’s config. It does not run models or install CLIs for you.

Install the tools you plan to manage locally, and confirm each command runs in a terminal.

Install only what you need—or install all four if you want four icons in CC Switch’s top app bar. Every command must be on PATH in the same OS user session CC Switch sees.

1. Claude Code

Recommended global install:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

macOS / Linux / WSL (official script):

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

Windows PowerShell:

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Verify:

claude --version
claude doctor

claude --version
claude doctor

First run:

claude

claude

Complete login or API key setup when prompted.

2. OpenCode

macOS / Linux:

curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

Or npm:

npm install -g opencode-ai

npm install -g opencode-ai

Homebrew:

brew install anomalyco/tap/opencode

brew install anomalyco/tap/opencode

Windows: prefer WSL; or:

npm install -g opencode-ai

npm install -g opencode-ai

Verify and auth:

opencode --version
opencode auth login

opencode --version
opencode auth login

opencode auth login configures the provider API key OpenCode uses.

3. OpenClaw

OpenClaw is an agent-oriented fork/ecosystem around OpenCode—follow its official install docs. Common paths:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Or npm / GitHub Releases:

npm install -g openclaw

npm install -g openclaw

Verify:

openclaw --version

openclaw --version

If the command exists but fails to start, check Node.js, global npm PATH, WSL, or terminal environment.

4. Hermes

Install per Hermes official documentation until:

hermes --version

hermes --version

works—whether via npm, pip, binary, or OS installer.

5. Verify all four

Open a new terminal and run:

claude --version
opencode --version
openclaw --version
hermes --version

claude --version
opencode --version
openclaw --version
hermes --version

command not found (or Windows “not recognized”) means the CLI is missing or not on PATH.

Locate binaries:

# macOS / Linux
which claude
which opencode
which openclaw
which hermes

# Windows PowerShell
where.exe claude
where.exe opencode
where.exe openclaw
where.exe hermes

# macOS / Linux
which claude
which opencode
which openclaw
which hermes

# Windows PowerShell
where.exe claude
where.exe opencode
where.exe openclaw
where.exe hermes

6. Check in CC Switch

Reopen CC Switch after CLIs work in terminal.

The top app bar scans installed tools:

• Icon shown: CC Switch found the CLI
• Icon missing: not installed or not on CC Switch’s PATH
• Terminal works but CC Switch does not see it: restart CC Switch; restart OS if needed; launch CC Switch from the same user account

Provider switching (endpoint, API key, models, proxy) applies only after CC Switch detects the target app.

Step 1: Register on ClaudeAPI.com and create an API key

1. Go to ClaudeAPI.com and create an account.
2. Verify your email address and open the dashboard.

3. Open the API Keys page and click Create New Key.

4. Copy your API key and save it immediately. It will only be displayed once.

ClaudeAPI.com model reference (verify live pricing in console):

Step 2: Download and install CC Switch

• GitHub: github.com/farion1231/cc-switch
• Site: ccswitch.io
• Releases: github.com/farion1231/cc-switch/releases

Step 3 (simpler): Create ClaudeAPI.com provider from the CC Switch site

Use the guided flow on ccswitch.io if available—fewer manual fields.

Step 3 (manual): Create ClaudeAPI.com provider in CC Switch

Open CC Switch after install:

Fill in (typical ClaudeAPI.com setup):

Key fields (confirm against CC Switch’s ClaudeAPI preset if offered):

Click Save.

Step 4: Activate and test

Activate the provider

In the provider list, select ClaudeAPI (or your custom name) and click Activate / Enable.

CC Switch writes ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN into ~/.claude/settings.json (paths may vary by OS)—no manual JSON edit.

Test connectivity

1. Click Test next to the provider
2. Wait for latency measurement
3. Green indicator = success

Verify in Claude Code

claude

claude

If Claude Code starts and responds, configuration is working.

Check the active model:

/model

/model

Repeat similar checks in OpenCode, OpenClaw, or Hermes after mapping each app in CC Switch.

Step 5: Daily use and advanced options

Model mapping

Copy model IDs from your ClaudeAPI console into CC Switch model mapping:

• Primary / default: your usual default
• Sonnet default: claude-sonnet-4-6
• Opus default: claude-opus-4-7 or claude-opus-4-6
• Haiku default: claude-haiku-4-5-20251001

Use Anthropic Messages API format; keep default auth field names. Save, then call Claude models.

Single-model only:

Quick switch from the system tray

CC Switch lives in the tray. With multiple providers (e.g. ClaudeAPI.com vs Anthropic direct), right-click the tray icon to switch without opening the main window.

Multiple providers example

Same setup—different default model per provider.

FAQ

Provider switch did not take effect?

Restart the terminal after switching. If you use CC Switch’s local proxy mode, some setups support hot switch without restart.

Wrong ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL?

You may see 401 or connection errors. Use https://gw.claudeapi.com (gw, not api).

Lost API key?

Create a new key in the ClaudeAPI console and revoke the old one.

Does CC Switch store my key? Is it safe?

Keys live in a local SQLite DB (~/.cc-switch/cc-switch.db)—not on CC Switch’s servers. Cloud sync (Dropbox / OneDrive / iCloud / WebDAV) stores data in your cloud account; the CC Switch project does not hold your secrets.

One key for OpenClaw, OpenCode, Hermes, and Claude Code?

Yes—one ClaudeAPI key can back multiple tools after each CLI is installed and CC Switch writes the correct per-app config when you activate the provider.

Summary

Your stack:

1. ClaudeAPI.com — quota and Claude model access (gateway, not Anthropic official)
2. CC Switch — config management without hand-editing files
3. Your CLIs — Claude Code, OpenCode, OpenClaw, Hermes as needed

Typical setup is under five minutes. Switching providers is one click from the tray.

CTA

Register on ClaudeAPI.com · Console · CC Switch releases

Questions? Visit the ClaudeAPI.com community or CC Switch GitHub Issues.

Related reading (update links in CMS):

• Claude Code installation guide
• Claude API pricing guide
• Claude Code productivity tips

ClaudeAPI.com is a third-party API gateway. CC Switch is an independent open-source project—not affiliated with Anthropic.