How to Use Claude on Janitor AI: Complete Setup Tutorial 2026

Open your preferred web browser and navigate to your search engine. Search for "Janitor AI" and click the official Janitor AI website from the results to access the platform.

The Janitor AI homepage displays the main interface with available characters. Allow the site to load completely before proceeding. This initial access sets up your workspace for the configuration process covered in the video at the 00:13 mark.

Select any character from the Janitor AI interface to open a chat conversation. Click on the character card or profile to enter the standard chat view. The API settings menu only becomes accessible once you're inside an active chat session.

The chat interface displays the conversation window with your selected character, including the message input field at the bottom and menu options at the top. Allow the chat view to fully load before attempting to access the settings menu.

Locate the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the chat interface. Click this menu icon to reveal a dropdown list of options. Select API settings from the dropdown menu to open the configuration panel.

If the three-dot menu doesn't appear, verify that you've successfully opened a chat session—the menu only displays when you're actively inside a character conversation view. This navigation step corresponds to the 00:22 section of the video tutorial.

In the API settings panel, locate the provider selection option. Click on the provider dropdown or selection field. Choose Claude from the list of available API providers to designate Claude AI as your chat backend.

After selecting Claude, additional configuration fields specific to Claude will appear in the settings panel, including model selection and API key input options. This provider selection is covered at the 00:38 timestamp in the source video.

Locate the model selection field within the Claude API settings. Click to open the Claude preset dropdown menu displaying available models. Review the list and select the model that best fits your requirements for the chat experience.

More capable models typically produce higher quality responses with superior nuance and understanding, while lighter models offer faster response times and lower API costs per interaction. You can adjust this setting later based on performance or budget considerations.

Consider your priorities: quality-focused users should opt for more advanced models, while cost-conscious users may prefer efficient alternatives. The model selection process is demonstrated at 01:03 in the tutorial video.

Open a new browser tab or window while keeping your Janitor AI tab active. Search for "Claude console" or "Anthropic console" and click the official Claude console link from the results to access the developer portal.

Arrive at the Claude console login page and sign in using your existing Claude account credentials, or create a new account if you don't have one. Wait for the console dashboard to fully load after successful authentication.

This step begins the API key acquisition process detailed at timestamp 01:03 in the video. The console is where you'll generate the authentication credentials needed to connect Janitor AI to Claude's services.

Once logged into the Claude console, locate the left sidebar navigation menu. Click on API keys in the sidebar to access key management. The API keys page displays any existing keys you've created along with an option to create new ones.

Click the Create key button to begin generating a new API key. A dialog box or form will appear prompting you to name your key. Enter a descriptive name that helps you remember this key is for Janitor AI integration, such as "Janitor AI Integration" or "Janitor AI Claude Key".

After entering your key name, click Add or Create to finalize creation. Wait a moment while the system generates your unique API key. This generation process is shown at the 01:03-01:43 section of the video tutorial.

When your new API key appears on screen, locate the Copy key button next to the key string. Click this button to copy the entire API key to your clipboard. The key will be a long alphanumeric string serving as your authentication credential.

Treat this API key with the same security precautions as a password. Never share it publicly, post it on social media, or paste it in locations where others could access it. If your key becomes compromised, unauthorized users could make API calls using your account and potentially incur charges.

Store the key securely if you need to reference it later, or simply keep the console tab open while you complete the next connection step. This copying process is demonstrated at timestamp 01:43 in the source video.

Return to your Janitor AI browser tab where the API settings panel is still open. Locate the Claude keys field or API key input box within the settings interface. Click inside this input field to position your cursor for pasting.

Paste the API key you copied from the Claude console into this field. Use Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac), or right-click and select paste. Carefully verify that the entire key has been pasted without any extra spaces before or after the key string.

Even a single extra character or missing character can cause authentication failures. Review the pasted key to ensure it matches the format of the key you copied. This connection step is covered at the 01:43 mark in the tutorial video.

After pasting and verifying your API key, locate the Save settings button at the bottom of the API settings panel. Click this button to apply your Claude API configuration to your Janitor AI account. The system will validate your credentials and attempt to establish the connection.

A confirmation prompt may appear asking you to verify that you want to save these changes. If this prompt appears, click Yes or Confirm to finalize the connection. Wait for the settings panel to indicate successful configuration, which may appear as a success message or automatic panel closure.

Your chat is now configured to use Claude AI as the backend language model. All subsequent messages you send in this character conversation will be processed by the Claude model you selected. This final configuration step is shown at timestamp 02:03 in the video.

After saving your settings, send a message in your character chat to test the connection. The response should be generated by Claude using the model you configured. If you encounter any errors, return to the API settings to verify your configuration.

Common issues include invalid API keys (check for typos or extra spaces), expired or revoked keys, insufficient API credits or quota on your Claude account, or selecting a model that your account doesn't have access to. If problems persist, generate a new API key in the Claude console and repeat the connection process.

Access the API settings at any time by clicking the three-dot menu in any active chat session. This allows you to switch between different Claude models based on your current priorities for speed, cost, and response quality. This verification and troubleshooting guidance is covered in the final tips section at 02:03 in the video.