# Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop is different from Claude Code. You can't point the regular chat window at a relay with environment variables or `claude_desktop_config.json`. That file is for configuring MCP tools. The officially supported way is a Gateway (third-party inference) in Developer Mode.

Use a key from the **`CC-Max` group**.

1. Install Claude Desktop from [claude.com/download](https://claude.com/download). After it opens, **don't sign in yet**. Stay on the sign-in page.

2. Turn on Developer Mode. On macOS, use the top menu bar. On Windows, use the `☰` menu at the top left of the sign-in page. Go to `Help → Troubleshooting → Enable Developer Mode`.

3. Then go to `Developer → Configure third-party inference`. Under Connection, set Inference provider to `Gateway`.

4. Fill in the following:

   | Item | Value |
   | --- | --- |
   | Gateway base URL | `https://2api.dev` (do not add `/v1`) |
   | Gateway API key | `sk-your-key` |
   | Credential kind | `Static API key` (do not choose Interactive sign-in / SSO) |
   | Gateway auth scheme | `Bearer` |

5. Click `Test connection`. If there is a `Test model discovery` button, click that too. When both pass, click `Apply locally` and wait for the app to restart on its own.

## Common issues

- **You can't find the third-party inference entry**: Check that Developer Mode is on. If it's still missing, your version or account environment doesn't support it. Use [Claude Code](https://docs.2api.dev/en/clients/claude-code/) for now.
- **There is no `☰` menu at the top left on Windows**: Check that you opened the desktop client, not the web version. If you're already signed in to an official account, sign out first to get back to the sign-in page.
- **You can't find Static API key**: In different versions this item may be called Credential kind or Authentication type. Choose the option for a static API key.
- **Model discovery fails but the connection works**: Enter the model ID by hand. Look up names with [`/v1/models`](https://docs.2api.dev/en/start/endpoints/#model-names).
- **Where the config and logs are (Windows)**: The config is in `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Claude-3p\configLibrary\` and the log is at `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Claude-3p\Logs\main.log`.