> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.airun.me/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Provider Flags

> Switch between Claude subscriptions and cloud providers

Provider flags let you switch between different AI providers and models on the fly. Use your Claude subscription, cloud platforms, or local models without changing configuration files.

<Note>
  Most provider flags work with both Claude Code and Codex CLI. Each flag entry notes which runtimes support it. See [Runtimes](/concepts/runtimes) for the full compatibility matrix.
</Note>

## Available Providers

### Local Providers (Free)

<ParamField path="--ollama" type="flag">
  **Ollama** - Run models locally or on Ollama's cloud

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --ollama
  ai --ollama task.md
  ai --ollama --model qwen3-coder
  ai --ollama --model minimax-m2.5:cloud  # Cloud model, no GPU needed
  ```

  **Short form:** `--ol`

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code, Codex CLI

  **Setup:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  brew install ollama              # macOS
  ollama pull qwen3-coder          # Pull a model
  ollama serve                     # Start server
  ```

  **Requirements:**

  * Ollama installed and running at `http://localhost:11434`
  * 24GB+ VRAM for local coding models (cloud models work on any hardware)

  See [Local Providers](/providers/local) for details.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--lmstudio" type="flag">
  **LM Studio** - Local models with MLX support (fast on Apple Silicon)

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --lmstudio
  ai --lm task.md
  ai --lm --model mlx-community/Qwen2.5-Coder-32B-Instruct-4bit
  ```

  **Short form:** `--lm`

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code, Codex CLI

  **Setup:**

  1. Download LM Studio from [lmstudio.ai](https://lmstudio.ai)
  2. Load a model in the UI
  3. Start server: `lms server start --port 1234`

  **Requirements:**

  * LM Studio running at `http://localhost:1234`
  * 24GB+ unified memory for coding models

  See [Local Providers](/providers/local) for details.
</ParamField>

### Cloud Providers

<ParamField path="--aws" type="flag">
  **AWS Bedrock** - Claude models on Amazon Web Services

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --aws
  ai --aws --opus task.md
  ai --aws --haiku --resume
  ```

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code only

  **Setup in `~/.ai-runner/secrets.sh`:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  export AWS_PROFILE="your-profile-name"
  export AWS_REGION="us-west-2"
  ```

  **Authentication:**

  * AWS credentials file (`~/.aws/credentials`)
  * Or IAM role (for EC2/ECS)

  See [Cloud Providers](/providers/cloud) for details.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--vertex" type="flag">
  **Google Vertex AI** - Claude models on Google Cloud Platform

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --vertex
  ai --vertex task.md
  ai --vertex --sonnet --resume
  ```

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code only

  **Setup in `~/.ai-runner/secrets.sh`:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  export ANTHROPIC_VERTEX_PROJECT_ID="your-gcp-project-id"
  export CLOUD_ML_REGION="global"
  ```

  **Authentication:**

  * Application default credentials (`gcloud auth application-default login`)
  * Or service account key file

  See [Cloud Providers](/providers/cloud) for details.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--apikey" type="flag">
  **Anthropic API** - Direct access to Anthropic's API

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --apikey
  ai --apikey --opus task.md
  ```

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code (Anthropic API), Codex CLI (forces OpenAI API key auth)

  **Setup in `~/.ai-runner/secrets.sh`:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
  ```

  **Authentication:**

  * API key from [console.anthropic.com](https://console.anthropic.com)

  See [Cloud Providers](/providers/cloud) for details.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--azure" type="flag">
  **Microsoft Azure** — Claude Code: Azure Foundry (Anthropic models) / Codex CLI: Azure OpenAI (GPT models)

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code, Codex CLI (different services)

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --azure
  ai --azure task.md
  ```

  **Setup in `~/.ai-runner/secrets.sh`:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  export ANTHROPIC_FOUNDRY_API_KEY="your-azure-api-key"
  export ANTHROPIC_FOUNDRY_RESOURCE="your-resource-name"
  ```

  **Authentication:**

  * Azure Foundry API key

  See [Cloud Providers](/providers/cloud) for details.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--vercel" type="flag">
  **Vercel AI Gateway** - Access 100+ models (OpenAI, xAI, Google, Meta, and more)

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --vercel
  ai --vercel --model openai/gpt-5.2-codex
  ai --vercel --model anthropic/claude-opus-5
  ai --vercel --model google/gemini-exp-2506
  ```

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code only

  **Setup in `~/.ai-runner/secrets.sh`:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  export VERCEL_AI_GATEWAY_TOKEN="vck_..."
  ```

  **Authentication:**

  * Vercel AI Gateway token from [vercel.com/ai-gateway](https://vercel.com/ai-gateway)

  **Supported models:**

  * OpenAI (GPT-4, GPT-5, etc.)
  * xAI (Grok models)
  * Google (Gemini models)
  * Meta (Llama models)
  * Anthropic (Claude models)
  * And many more

  See [Cloud Providers](/providers/cloud) for details.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--pro" type="flag">
  **Claude Pro/Max** - Your regular Claude subscription

  ```bash theme={null}
  ai --pro
  ai --pro --resume
  ```

  **Runtimes:** Claude Code only

  **Authentication:**

  * Claude subscription (log in with `claude`)

  **Note:** This is the default if you're logged in and don't specify another provider.
</ParamField>

## Provider Precedence

When no provider is specified, AI Runner auto-detects in this order:

1. **Saved default** from `--set-default`
2. **Claude subscription** (if logged in with `claude`)
3. **Ollama** (if running locally)
4. **Anthropic API** (if `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` is configured)
5. **Cloud providers** (AWS, Vertex, Vercel, Azure — if configured)

CLI flags always override saved defaults and auto-detection.

## Examples

### Basic Usage

```bash theme={null}
# Use default provider (Claude subscription)
ai task.md

# Override to use AWS Bedrock
ai --aws task.md

# Use local Ollama (free)
ai --ollama task.md
```

### Combining Providers and Models

```bash theme={null}
# AWS with Opus
ai --aws --opus task.md

# Ollama with specific model
ai --ollama --model qwen3-coder task.md

# Vercel with OpenAI
ai --vercel --model openai/gpt-5.2-codex task.md
```

### Interactive Sessions

```bash theme={null}
# Start session with AWS
ai --aws

# Start with Ollama and bypass permissions
ai --ollama --bypass

# Start with Vertex and agent teams
ai --vertex --team
```

### Resume Conversations

```bash theme={null}
# Hit rate limit on Pro
ai --pro
# "Rate limit exceeded"

# Switch to AWS and continue
ai --aws --resume

# Or switch to free Ollama
ai --ollama --resume
```

### Shebang Scripts

```markdown theme={null}
#!/usr/bin/env -S ai --aws --opus
Analyze this codebase with AWS Bedrock.
```

```markdown theme={null}
#!/usr/bin/env -S ai --ollama --haiku
Quick analysis with local Ollama.
```

### Set Default Provider

```bash theme={null}
# Save AWS as default
ai --aws --set-default

# Now 'ai' uses AWS by default
ai task.md

# Override still works
ai --ollama task.md

# Clear default
ai --clear-default
```

## Provider Status

Check which providers are configured:

```bash theme={null}
ai-status
```

See [ai-status reference](/cli/ai-status) for details.

## Multiple Providers Workflow

Switch between providers based on your needs:

```bash theme={null}
# Quick tests: use free Ollama
ai --ollama --haiku quick-test.md

# Complex tasks: use AWS with Opus
ai --aws --opus complex-task.md

# Cost-sensitive: use Haiku on any provider
ai --apikey --haiku analyze.md

# Rate-limited: fall back to different provider
ai --aws --resume  # Continue after hitting Pro rate limit
```

## Provider-Gated Flags

Some passthrough flags only work with specific providers:

<Warning>
  **`--chrome`** requires a direct Anthropic plan (Pro, Max, Teams, Enterprise). It does not work through Bedrock, Vertex, Azure Foundry, Ollama, or LM Studio. AI Runner warns when `--chrome` is used with incompatible providers.
</Warning>

## Related Pages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Model Flags" icon="brain" href="./model-flags">
    Select model tiers and specific model IDs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Provider Guides" icon="book" href="/providers">
    Detailed setup for each provider
  </Card>
</CardGroup>