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

# Claude Desktop

> Connect Claude Desktop's third-party inference to a Pangolin AI Gateway resource

Claude Desktop can route its requests through a third-party inference gateway instead of Anthropic directly. Point it at an AI Gateway resource that has an Anthropic-compatible provider attached — Anthropic itself, Bedrock, Vertex AI, or a custom Anthropic-compatible endpoint. See [AI Gateway Overview](/manage/ai/overview) if you haven't set that up yet.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/fossorial/k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R/images/claude_desktop_landing.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R&q=85&s=18abdf2ca3c5e199ce6dbd46ece68c91" alt="Claude Desktop third-party inference settings" width="2400" height="1590" data-path="images/claude_desktop_landing.png" />
</Frame>

You'll need the resource's URL (its `<endpoint>`) and its API key (`<key>`). Both are on the resource's Keys page.

<Note>
  **Public vs. private resources**

  Wherever these instructions show `<key>`, what you put there depends on the resource type:

  * **Public resource** - reachable from anywhere, so the gateway checks a [virtual API key](/manage/ai/virtual-api-keys). Copy it from the resource URL after login, the Resource Launcher more-info panel, or `https://app.pangolin.net/<org-id>/keys` (use your self-hosted dashboard URL in place of `app.pangolin.net` if you self-host).
  * **Private resource** - only reachable from devices connected to your Pangolin network, so no key is checked. You must have the [Pangolin client](/manage/clients/install-client) installed and connected. Use the literal string `none` as the key.

  Don't delete the key field for private resources. Most clients refuse to start without *some* key set, so they need an inert placeholder rather than a missing one.
</Note>

## Steps

1. Open Claude Desktop, go to the menu in the top left and select **Help > Troubleshooting**, and turn on **Developer Mode**.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/fossorial/k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R/images/claude_desktop_troubleshooting.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R&q=85&s=b24c0f21d495a06e870a1628b7bfa870" alt="Claude Desktop third-party inference settings" width="2392" height="1592" data-path="images/claude_desktop_troubleshooting.png" />
</Frame>

2. From the menu bar, open **Developer**, then **Configure Third-Party Inference…**.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/fossorial/k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R/images/claude_desktop_developer.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R&q=85&s=8a90decdd063dd79c7979ea0751e3e54" alt="Claude Desktop third-party inference settings" width="2396" height="1592" data-path="images/claude_desktop_developer.png" />
</Frame>

3. Select **Gateway**
4. Select **Credential kind** > **Static API Key**.
5. Fill in:
   * **Gateway base URL:** `<endpoint>`
   * **Gateway API Key:** `<key>`

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/fossorial/k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R/images/claude_desktop_developer_settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=k1mH62o3m6aJnQ5R&q=85&s=8b4bd8bcca4d4d9713908d36438ff7dd" alt="Claude Desktop third-party inference settings" width="2382" height="1592" data-path="images/claude_desktop_developer_settings.png" />
</Frame>

6. Restart Claude Desktop.

Send a message to confirm it's working — check the resource's activity in Pangolin's logs if you want to verify traffic is actually flowing through the gateway rather than straight to Anthropic.

For a private resource, put `none` in the API Key field rather than leaving it blank, and make sure the Pangolin client is installed and connected on the same machine as Claude Desktop.