How to Use Claude Code with Kimi K3 (and Switch Models by Typing One Word)
Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Editorial Team
Author(s): allglenn
Originally published on Towards AI.
How to Use Claude Code with Kimi K3 (and Switch Models by Typing One Word)
A verified, step-by-step guide to running Claude Code against Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 using Anthropic-compatible environment variables, plus how to extend the same pattern to GLM and any OpenRouter model
The article explains how Claude Code can be routed to other model providers by configuring Anthropic-compatible environment variables (base URL, auth token, and model ID), allowing you to switch models without changing the Claude Code workflow. It walks through setting up Kimi K3 with a dedicated Claude Code settings file, creating a one-word shell alias to load that configuration, and verifying the connection via /status and a test prompt. It also covers common pitfalls (wrong base URL path, missing default model variables, thinking-mode differences, and timeouts), plus practical guidance for extending the same approach to GLM and gateways like OpenRouter. Finally, it compares options by cost and use-case, offers decision heuristics for picking the right alias per task, discusses security/privacy considerations, and notes that this routing is an intended, supported configuration surface rather than a workaround.
Read the full blog for free on Medium.
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