apiKeyHelper
A Claude Code settings key, read out of the shipped bundle. It was in the build from v2.1.138 and was gone by v2.1.284.
Generate the API credential with your own command
Anthropic's own wording. Read off All settings, captured 2026-10-22.
In the changelogs
27Releases whose published page names apiKeyHelper.
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v2.1.304
Credential helper commands no longer run in some kinds of Claude Code process
apiKeyHelper, awsAuthRefresh and three other helper settings are skipped in processes pinned to the stored login and in tool-server daemons
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.296
Cloud sessions message names the key or token whose organization was checked
When cloud sessions are blocked by organization policy, the message now says which API key or token Claude Code checked the policy for
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.288
/login in bare mode explains why it won't sign you in
In bare mode,
/loginnow prints an explanation instead of a sign-in that would have no effectfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.284
/auto-mode-setupchecks you are signed in before it scans your environment/auto-mode-setupnow checks your login first and tells you to run/loginif it has expired or you are not signed infound in this entry's text
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v2.1.284
Clearer error when a managed login policy clashes with your API key or token
When managed settings require a specific sign-in but another credential is set, the error names that credential, where it came from, and how to fix it
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.281
Settings merge gains a credential-helper filter that is inert in this build
A filter that could strip credential helper settings from settings files is built in but does nothing yet
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.275
apiKeyHelper case removed from dead switch in Op
A dead code path's switch statement dropped an unused apiKeyHelper case
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.274
apiKeyHelper failure now surfaced in status/settings display
Settings/status now shows a 'Failing' row with last-run time when your apiKeyHelper command errors
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.273
Auth-type detection now reports whether the API key came from an apiKeyHelper
Auth-type detection now reports separately whether the active API key came from an
apiKeyHelpercommandfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.265
Gateway auth backend: API key check now short-circuits to 'missing' before touching helper/env key
Gateway auth now immediately reports an API key as missing instead of checking apiKeyHelper or environment variables first
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.248
Gateway model discovery explains why it skipped, and can use apiKeyHelper
Gateway model discovery can authenticate with apiKeyHelper and logs why it skipped.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.248
Memory API endpoint and token environment variables
Two environment variables can point Claude Code at a memory service with a token.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.235
Process-global caches moved into per-host scoped containers
Process-global caches (API keys, quotas, budgets, UI stores) moved to per-host containers instead of module singletons
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.234
SDK reports where an API key actually came from
The SDK now reports where an API key really came from, like the env var or an apiKeyHelper.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.227
apiKeyHelper output is validated before it is sent
Your apiKeyHelper output is now checked for junk characters and length before being used.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.227
Bad HTTP header values are rejected before the request instead of crashing
Illegal header values from your env or key helper now fail clearly instead of crashing.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.224
Artifact tool now explains exactly which credential is blocking it
The artifact tool now names the exact credential blocking you, with a fix for each.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.223
Policy-settings environment stripping is case-insensitive
Environment variables your org policy blocks can no longer sneak through by changing their capitalization.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.212
CLAUDE_CODE_SIMPLE Environment Variable
found in this entry's text
- v2.1.208
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v2.1.167
Auth-helper settings filtered under explicit host management
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.139
Remote Control Diagnostics Are More Specific
found in this entry's text
- v2.1.77
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v1.0.49
Enhanced Configuration Validation
found in this entry's text
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v1.0.16
Authentication and API Key Handling
found in this entry's text
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v0.2.46
API Key Helper
found in this entry's text
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v0.2.46
Configuration
found in this entry's text
First cited
4The earliest release whose published evidence quoted apiKeyHelper was v2.1.227, 10 Aug 2026. That is the oldest release this project wrote about it, so it is a floor on the name's age and not the release that introduced it. It is not a presence reading: which builds carried the name is the table below.
Presence across releases
2Build by build
149One row per release since the first build this name was read out of. Absent means the build was read and the name was not in it, never mined means no bundle for that release was ever archived, and a declared type or a default is only ever what that release's own bundle stated.
Read out of the published npm bundle release by release, and out of Anthropic's own documentation as this site captured it. Nothing on this page is a description anybody here wrote about what the settings key does. All settings keys.