Use your key in VS Code

Install the Claude Code extension, share ~/.claude/settings.json with the CLI, and skip the sign-in screen.

The Claude Code extension for VS Code (extension ID anthropic.claude-code) brings Claude Code into an editor panel. It shares the same ~/.claude/settings.json as the CLI, so you configure it once and both work.

Install

Search “Claude Code” (publisher Anthropic) in the VS Code Extensions panel and install it.
The command-line equivalent: code --install-extension anthropic.claude-code.
Reload the window afterwards: run Developer: Reload Window from the command palette (⌘⇧P / Ctrl⇧P).

Configure

Identical to using Claude Code — write the env block in ~/.claude/settings.json:

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://<your-base-url>",
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "claude-sonnet-5",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL": "claude-sonnet-5"
  }
}

ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL is host only (no /v1) and ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN holds your OLETOKEN key. The Quick start dialog on the API keys page offers a download of a script with these values already filled in — pick the “VS Code extension” tab.

The panel still asks you to log in

You do not need a claude.ai account when using an OLETOKEN key:

VS Code settings (⌘, / Ctrl+,) → search “Claude Code login” → tick Disable Login Prompt.
If it still reports you as signed out, VS Code probably did not inherit your shell environment: launch it from a terminal with code .. Writing settings.json as above also works, since it does not depend on environment variables.

Unavailable behind a third-party gateway

Features that rely on a claude.ai account do not apply: usage stats, voice input and cloud sessions (the Web tab). Local capabilities — editing, diff review, the built-in IDE MCP — are unaffected.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Cause and fix
401	Wrong or disabled key; make sure it is in `ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN`
404	`ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL` includes `/v1` — drop the path
Extension installed but no Claude icon	Open a file first; the toolbar button appears with an active editor, or use the icon in the activity bar
Config change ignored	Reload the window (`Developer: Reload Window`) and reopen the panel

The same extension installs in Cursor (which accepts the VS Code marketplace) and is configured the same way — see using Cursor.