# Use Claude

> Get an Anthropic API key, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.

- Page: https://resurf.so/guides/use-claude
- Section: AI
- Works on: Mac, iPhone, iPad
- Last checked against the app: 2026-10-19
- Key from: console.anthropic.com
- Looks like: sk-ant-…
- Syncs: No, this device only

## Get a key

Claude in Resurf uses the Anthropic Console, which is separate from a Claude.ai account.

1. Sign in at [console.anthropic.com](https://console.anthropic.com/settings/keys) (it opens as platform.claude.com) and open **API keys** under Settings.
2. Click **Create key**, name it, and choose when it expires. Copy the key: it starts with `sk-ant-` and is shown in full only once.
3. Add credit on the **Billing** page before you connect. Requests are paid from that balance, and the Console also lets you set a spend limit.

On iPhone and iPad, the **Create a key at console.anthropic.com** link on the key step opens the same page.

## Connect it

On Mac:

1. Choose **Settings…** (`⌘,`) and click **Providers** in the sidebar.
2. Click **Connect** beside **Claude**.
3. Paste your key into **API key** and click **Connect**. Resurf sends one test request to check it.
4. Claude moves to the top and shows **Connected**.

On iPhone and iPad:

1. In Resurf's Settings, turn on **AI**, or tap **Providers** if AI is already on.
2. Tap **Claude**, paste your key and tap **Continue**.
3. Resurf checks the key. Then read what will be shared with Anthropic and tap **Allow**.

![Settings, Providers pane: OpenAI and Gemini connected; Claude, OpenRouter and Ollama to connect.](https://resurf.so/guides/shots/settings-providers@2x.webp)

Your first provider turns on **AI features** and **Suggest as you capture**. The test sends your key and asks Anthropic for its model list. No capture content is in it.

## What it powers in Resurf

Resurf picks a Claude model for you when you connect. It writes [suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions) as you capture (titles, tags, spaces and summaries), voice note titles and clean-ups, generated notes, and answers in the [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai) on Mac. If the model you pick can't see images, Resurf reads them with a vision model from Anthropic, or organizes them from their text.

- **Voice transcription stays where it was.** Cloud transcription is [OpenAI](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openai) only, so with Claude alone, voice notes are transcribed on your device.
- **The key stays on this device.** Claude keys don't sync, so connect Claude on each Mac, iPhone and iPad you use.

## When the connection test fails

On Mac you see **Could not connect to Claude. Check the API key and try again.** On iPhone and iPad the test step says **The key didn't work.**, with **Back** and **Try again**.

| Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| The key is wrong or expired | A character is missing from the paste, the key was deleted in the Console, or it reached the expiry you chose when you made it. Make a new key and paste the whole thing. |
| No credit | A key is accepted without any, but requests fail with a billing error until you add credit on the Billing page. |
| A spend limit is reached | Anthropic refuses requests past the monthly limit on your organization or workspace. Raise it in the Console. |

On Mac, click **Manage** beside Claude and click **Test** to run the check again.

## Questions

### Does a Claude.ai subscription come with an API key?

No. Keys come from the Anthropic Console, which has its own account and credit.

### Why does the Console open as platform.claude.com?

That is the Console's current address. console.anthropic.com takes you there.

### Can I transcribe voice notes with Claude?

No. Cloud transcription is OpenAI only. Voice notes are transcribed on your device otherwise.

## More guides

- Previous: [Use OpenAI](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openai.md)
- Next: [Use Gemini](https://resurf.so/guides/use-gemini.md)
- [AI providers](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-providers.md): Connect your own AI provider with your own key. Resurf's AI features stay off until you do.
- [Use OpenAI](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openai.md): Get an OpenAI API key, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Use Gemini](https://resurf.so/guides/use-gemini.md): Get a Gemini API key from Google AI Studio, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Use OpenRouter](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openrouter.md): Get an OpenRouter key that reaches many models, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Run Ollama on your Mac](https://resurf.so/guides/ollama.md): Run models on your own Mac with Ollama, with no key and nothing sent to the cloud.
- [AI suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions.md): When you save something, your AI provider writes a title, a summary and keywords for it, and suggests spaces.
- [Model and instructions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-model.md): Pick the model that writes your suggestions, give it your own instructions, and run it again over your library.
- [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai.md): Ask questions about your library in a chat pane on Mac, and get answers that cite the captures they used.
- [Voice notes and AI](https://resurf.so/guides/voice-ai.md): Transcribe voice notes on your device or with OpenAI, and let your model title them, tidy the transcript and write notes.
- [What AI sends](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-privacy.md): What each AI feature sends to your provider, and when nothing is sent at all.
- [Every guide](https://resurf.so/llms.txt)