CC-Switch Complete Guide: Master Multiple Claude Code API Configurations in 5 Minutes

Coding with Claude Code is awesome, but is the official API too pricey? Want to switch to a third-party API proxy but don't know how to edit those configuration files? CC-Switch was born to solve exactly this pain point. This article will help you master the installation and use of CC-Switch in just 5 minutes, making it a breeze to manage API settings for Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and Gemini CLI all in one place.

Core Value: By the end of this post, you'll know how to use CC-Switch to visually manage multiple API Providers and switch configurations with one click, saying goodbye to the hassle of manually editing JSON files.

What is CC-Switch? And why do you need it?

CC-Switch is an open-source, cross-platform desktop application specifically designed to unify the management of AI coding assistant configurations. It was created by developer farion1231 and is open-sourced on GitHub.

CC-Switch's Core Mission

Simply put, CC-Switch is the "configuration hub" for your AI coding tools:

The 4 Major AI Coding Tools Supported by CC-Switch

🚀 Quick Start: CC-Switch supports third-party proxies like APIYI (apiyi.com). Once you've set up your Provider, you can use tools like Claude Code at a much lower cost while enjoying the convenience of one-click switching.

CC-Switch Core Functionality Detailed

CC-Switch isn't just a configuration switcher; it's a full-featured AI tool management platform:

Feature 1: Provider Management (Core Feature)

This is CC-Switch's most popular feature, supporting:

Provider Configuration Example:

{
  "name": "APIYI",
  "baseUrl": "https://api.apiyi.com",
  "apiKey": "sk-your-apiyi-key",
  "models": {
    "claude-sonnet-4-20250514": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
    "claude-opus-4-20250514": "claude-opus-4-20250514"
  }
}

Feature 2: MCP Server Management

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an extension protocol for Claude Code. CC-Switch provides a unified MCP management interface:

• Supports three transport types: stdio, http, and sse.
• Unified configuration across applications (Claude/Codex/Gemini).
• Visual UI to add, edit, and delete MCP servers.

Feature 3: Skills Management

CC-Switch can automatically discover and install Claude Skills:

• Auto-scans GitHub repositories for Skills.
• One-click installation to the ~/.claude/skills/ directory.
• Supports recursive scanning of nested directories.

Feature 4: System Prompts Management

Create system prompt presets for different scenarios:

• Unlimited number of prompt presets.
• Supports CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, and GEMINI.md.
• Quickly switch between different work modes.

Feature 5: Local API Proxy (v3.9.0+)

CC-Switch includes a built-in local proxy server that offers advanced features:

💡 Pro Tip: The local proxy works best when paired with APIYI (apiyi.com). APIYI provides stable OpenAI-compatible interfaces, and CC-Switch’s failover feature can automatically switch during network fluctuations, ensuring your programming experience remains uninterrupted.

CC-Switch Installation Guide

CC-Switch supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, with multiple installation methods available.

Windows Installation

Method 1: MSI Installer (Recommended)

Download the .msi file from GitHub Releases and double-click to install.

Method 2: Portable Version

Download the .zip portable version, extract it, and run it directly—no installation required.

macOS Installation

Method 1: Homebrew (Recommended)

brew install --cask cc-switch

Method 2: Manual Installation

Download the .dmg or .zip file and drag it into your Applications folder.

Note: You might encounter a Gatekeeper warning on the first launch; you'll need to allow it to run in "System Preferences → Security & Privacy."

Linux Installation

CC-Switch provides several package formats for Linux:

Verifying Installation

After installation, launch CC-Switch. You should see the main interface displaying the status of any detected CLI tools.

CC-Switch Quick Start Guide

Step 1: Add APIYI Provider

1. Click the "Add Provider" button on the main interface.
2. Select "Custom" for custom configuration.
3. Fill in the following details:

Name: APIYI
Base URL: https://api.apiyi.com
API Key: sk-your-apiyi-key  # Get this from apiyi.com

4. Configure model mapping (optional):

{
  "claude-sonnet-4-20250514": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
  "claude-opus-4-20250514": "claude-opus-4-20250514",
  "gpt-4o": "gpt-4o"
}

5. Click "Save" to save your configuration.

Getting an API Key: Visit APIYI at apiyi.com to register an account and get your API Key. The platform provides free test credits and supports mainstream Large Language Models like Claude, GPT, and Gemini.

Step 2: Switch Provider

Once your configuration is saved, head to the Provider list on the main interface:

1. Find the "APIYI" Provider you just added.
2. Click "Switch" or simply click on the Provider itself.
3. CC-Switch will automatically update the configuration files for your tools.
4. Restart CLI tools like Claude Code for the changes to take effect.

Step 3: Test Connection

Use CC-Switch's speed test feature to verify everything's working:

1. Click the "Test" button next to the Provider.
2. Wait for the latency test to complete.
3. Check the response time and status indicator.

If the test passes, open your terminal and run Claude Code:

claude

If you can chat normally, you're all set!

Minimalist Configuration Example

{
  "id": "apiyi-provider",
  "name": "APIYI (Recommended)",
  "baseUrl": "https://api.apiyi.com",
  "apiKey": "sk-your-apiyi-key",
  "enabled": true,
  "models": {
    "claude-sonnet-4-20250514": {
      "id": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
      "name": "Claude Sonnet 4",
      "maxTokens": 64000
    },
    "claude-opus-4-20250514": {
      "id": "claude-opus-4-20250514",
      "name": "Claude Opus 4",
      "maxTokens": 32000
    },
    "gpt-4o": {
      "id": "gpt-4o",
      "name": "GPT-4o",
      "maxTokens": 16384
    },
    "gpt-4o-mini": {
      "id": "gpt-4o-mini",
      "name": "GPT-4o Mini",
      "maxTokens": 16384
    }
  },
  "healthCheck": {
    "enabled": true,
    "interval": 60
  }
}

CC-Switch Advanced Features

Multi-Provider Management Strategy

CC-Switch supports multiple Provider configurations, allowing for a flexible usage strategy:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              CC-Switch Provider List              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  ⭐ APIYI (Primary)     Latency: 120ms   ✓ Healthy │
│  📦 OpenRouter (Backup)  Latency: 280ms   ✓ Healthy │
│  🏢 Official Claude (Fallback) Latency: 350ms   ✓ Healthy │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Recommended Setup:

• Primary: APIYI – Great pricing and fast access within China.
• Backup: OpenRouter – Wide model selection and stable overseas.
• Fallback: Official Login – Ensures you're always connected.

Cloud Sync

CC-Switch can sync your configuration to cloud storage:

1. Go to Settings → Storage.
2. Select a cloud sync folder (Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud Drive).
3. CC-Switch will automatically sync your Provider settings.

This way, you can share the same API setup across multiple devices effortlessly.

Advanced Local Proxy Configuration

When you enable the local proxy, CC-Switch will:

1. Start a proxy server locally.
2. Automatically modify CLI configs to point to this local proxy.
3. Forward requests from the proxy server to the actual Provider.

Advantages:

• All requests go through a single entry point, making them easier to monitor.
• Automatic failover: if a Provider goes down, it switches automatically.
• Request logging for easier troubleshooting.

# Request flow in proxy mode
Claude Code → localhost:8080 → CC-Switch Proxy → APIYI → Claude API

Claude Rectifier Feature

The Claude Rectifier feature, added in v3.10.0, is designed to fix compatibility issues with third-party APIs:

• Automatically fixes thinking signature formats.
• Improves compatibility with non-official APIs.
• Reduces "format error" type bugs.

CC-Switch FAQ

# Option 1: Close the current terminal and reopen it
# Option 2: Enter /exit in Claude Code to quit, then restart
claude  # Restart

# Delete the custom config to restore official settings
rm ~/.claude/settings.json
claude  # Log back into your official account

CC-Switch vs. Manual Configuration

🎯 Pro-tip: If you find yourself frequently switching between multiple API Providers or using several AI coding tools at once, CC-Switch will give your workflow a massive boost. Pair it with APIYI (apiyi.com) for the ultimate high-convenience, low-cost experience.

Comparison of Related Tools

Besides CC-Switch, there are a few similar tools out there:

Recommended Combo: CC-Switch (Config Management) + APIYI (API Proxy) = The most cost-effective solution.

References

Summary

CC-Switch is a powerful tool for managing AI coding assistant configurations. It solves the following pain points:

1. Tedious Configuration: A visual interface replaces manual JSON editing.
2. Switching Hassles: Switch between multiple providers with a single click.
3. Fragmented Tools: Centrally manage Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and Gemini CLI.
4. No Speed Testing: Built-in latency testing to help you pick the fastest provider.
5. Configuration Loss: Automatic backups and cloud sync ensure your settings are never lost.

For developers who frequently use AI coding tools, the combination of CC-Switch + APIYI is a highly recommended setup:

• CC-Switch: Provides convenient configuration management.
• APIYI (apiyi.com): Offers stable, low-cost API services.

Visit APIYI (apiyi.com) to register an account and get your API key. Then, simply add a provider in CC-Switch to start enjoying a seamless AI programming experience.

📝 Author: APIYI Tech Team | APIYI (apiyi.com) – Making AI API calls simpler.