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Setup

AI in Phoenix Code is powered by Claude Code, the coding agent from Anthropic. To use it you need three things:

  1. A Phoenix Code account, signed in to the editor.
  2. The Claude Code CLI, installed on your machine.
  3. A Claude account that pays for the AI: either a Claude subscription or an API key.

Phoenix Code walks you through each step in the AI panel. Chats are billed to the Claude account you connect, not to Phoenix Code.

Step 1: Sign in to Phoenix Code​

Click the AI tab (sparkle icon) in the sidebar. If you are not signed in, the panel asks you to sign in to your Phoenix Code account. Click Sign In.

AI sign in screen

Step 2: Install Claude Code​

If the Claude Code CLI is not installed on your machine, the panel tells you it must be installed. Click Install Claude Code. Phoenix Code opens its built-in terminal and runs the official installer from Anthropic. The install can take a while; Phoenix Code detects when it finishes.

Install Claude Code screen

Restart Phoenix Code after the installation completes.

If you prefer to install the CLI yourself, follow Anthropic's setup guide and restart Phoenix Code when done.

Step 3: Connect your Claude account​

Once the CLI is installed, the panel shows Claude Code is installed but needs to be configured. Click Setup Claude Code to open Claude Code in the built-in terminal, where you log in with your Claude account. Restart Phoenix Code after the configuration completes.

Setup Claude Code screen

You have two ways to log in:

With a Claude subscription​

Claude Code is included in Claude's paid plans (Pro and above). The free claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code.

  1. Create a Claude account at claude.ai if you don't have one.
  2. Get a plan that includes Claude Code at claude.com/pricing.
  3. Click Setup Claude Code and pick the subscription login option in the terminal.

With an API key​

If you don't want a subscription, you can pay per use with an API key instead:

  1. Create an API key at platform.claude.com.
  2. Click Setup Claude Code and pick the API key option in the terminal, or add the key as a custom provider in AI settings.

You can also use any other provider with an Anthropic-compatible API. See Models and Providers.

The Claude Code CLI must be installed even when you bring your own API key or use a third-party provider.

If your login expires​

If your Claude login expires later, the chat shows a Claude Code is signed out or your login has expired notice with a Log in to Claude in Terminal button. Click it, type /login in the terminal that opens, then send your message again.

Expired login notice