CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS is a Claude Code environment variable: Cache TTL for API key helper. Present since v2.1.69 or earlier and still present in v2.1.294. It is listed in the official reference.

Status	Present in v2.1.294
Added	Present since v2.1.69 or earlier
Category	Authentication
Official docs	Listed

How to set it

For one session, export it in the shell that starts Claude Code:

export CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS=<value>
claude

To apply it to every session, add it to the env object of a settings file:

// ~/.claude/settings.json
{
  "env": {
    "CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS": "<value>"
  }
}

Related variables

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: Primary API key for Claude API.
CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_FILE_DESCRIPTOR: File descriptor to read API key from.
CLAUDE_CODE_PROXY_AUTH_HELPER_TTL_MS: Cache TTL for helper-returned credentials.
CLAUDE_CODE_CLIENT_KEY: Path to client private key.
CLAUDE_CODE_CLIENT_KEY_PASSPHRASE: Passphrase for encrypted client key.
CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_PROXY_AUTH_HELPER: Set to "1" to enable the proxy auth helper subsystem.
CLAUDE_LOCAL_OAUTH_API_BASE: Overrides the base URL for local OAuth API operations.
CLAUDE_CODE_ARTIFACTS_API_TOKEN

Frequently asked questions

What does CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS do?

Cache TTL for API key helper

Which Claude Code version has CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS?

Present since v2.1.69 or earlier and still present in v2.1.294.

How do I set CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS?

Export it before starting Claude Code (export CLAUDE_CODE_API_KEY_HELPER_TTL_MS=value), or add it to the "env" object in ~/.claude/settings.json to apply it to every session.

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.