Set UpClaude Code with OmniRoute (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’re looking for an easy way to use different AI models inside Claude Code without changing your workflow, Omni Route is one of the best solutions available. It creates a local Anthropic-compatible API endpoint, allowing Claude Code to communicate with dozens of different AI providers through a single interface.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to install Omni Route, configure Claude Code, and verify that everything is working correctly.

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What You’ll Need Before Installing Omni Route

Before installing Omni Route, make sure you have the following tools installed on your computer.

1. Node.js

Omni Route requires Node.js to run.

Supported versions:

• Node.js 22.x
• Node.js 24 LTS (Recommended)
• Node.js 25.x
• Node.js 26.x

You can download the latest supported version directly from the official Node.js website.

After installing Node.js, verify that everything is working by running:

node -v
npm -v

npm is included automatically when you install Node.js, so no additional installation is required.

If both commands return version numbers, you’re ready for the next step.


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3. Git (Recommended)

Although Omni Route doesn’t strictly require Git, most AI coding workflows do.

If Git isn’t installed, download it from the official Git website or verify it using:

git --version

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4. VS Code or Antigravity

You’ll need Visual Studio Code if you’re planning to use Claude Code inside VS Code.

After installation, you can verify the command line integration with:

code --version

If the command isn’t recognized, enable the Shell Command: Install ‘code’ command in PATH option from VS Code.

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5. Claude Code

Claude Code must already be installed.

If it isn’t installed yet, use the official installation command:

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

Once installed, verify it by running:

claude --version

If the version number appears, Claude Code is installed correctly.

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Installing Omni Route

Now that everything is ready, install Omni Route globally using npm.

npm install -g omniroute

Depending on your internet connection, installation usually finishes within a few seconds.

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Starting Omni Route

Launch Omni Route with a single command:

omniroute

Once it starts successfully, you’ll have access to two local services.

Dashboard

http://localhost:20128

Anthropic-Compatible API

http://localhost:20128/v1

The dashboard lets you monitor requests, manage providers, and copy your local API credentials if required.

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Configuring Claude Code

Open your Claude Code settings.json file and update it with the following configuration.

Important: Never publish or share your real API key. Replace the placeholder below with your own key or load it securely using environment variables.

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "<YOUR_API_KEY>",
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "http://localhost:20128/v1",
    "CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC": "1",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL": "oc/deepseek-v4-flash-free",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL": "oc/big-pickle",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL": "nvidia/minimaxai/minimax-m2.7"
  },
  "model": "opus",
For Windows;-
  "statusLine": {
    "type": "command",
    "command": "node \"C:\\Users\\yourDeviceName(userName)\\.claude\\statusline.js\""
  },
For Mac:-
 "statusLine": { 
   "type": "command", 
   "command": "node ~/.claude/statusline.js" 
  },
  "effortLevel": "low",
  "theme": "dark",
  "switchModelsOnFlag": false
}

How to Find Your Username

If you’re unsure about your username, run the following command in your terminal.

Windows (Command Prompt)

echo %USERNAME%

Windows (PowerShell)

$env:USERNAME

macOS / Linux

whoami

Replace yourDeviceName or yourUsername in the configuration with the value returned by the command above.

The important part here is the ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL, which tells Claude Code to use your local Omni Route server instead of connecting directly to Anthropic.

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Testing Your Installation

Before opening Claude Code, it’s a good idea to verify that Omni Route is responding correctly.

Run the following command:

curl http://localhost:20128/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY"

If everything is configured correctly, you’ll receive a JSON response listing the available AI models.

That confirms your local API endpoint is working properly.

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Quick Setup Summary

1. Install Node.js (24 LTS recommended).
2. Install Claude Code.
3. Install Omni Route globally.
4. Start Omni Route.
5. Open the dashboard at http://localhost:20128.
6. Copy your API key if one is generated.
7. Update your Claude Code settings.json.
8. Test the API using the curl command.
9. Start coding with your preferred AI model.

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Final Thoughts

Omni Route makes it incredibly simple to use multiple AI providers through a single Anthropic-compatible endpoint. Once it’s connected to Claude Code, switching between models becomes effortless, and you no longer need to change API endpoints for every provider.

Whether you’re experimenting with free models or building a complete AI-powered development workflow, Omni Route provides a clean and flexible way to keep everything running locally while maintaining compatibility with Claude Code.