---
title: "Connect Aider to XiuRouter"
description: "Start Aider with temporary environment variables and verify code editing before changing persistent settings."
image: "https://docs.xiu.ai/og.png"
---

> XiuAI documentation index
> Full documentation index: https://docs.xiu.ai/en/llms.txt
> Check the index for current pages before reading.

# Connect Aider to XiuRouter

For a first setup, set the Base URL and key in one terminal, then start a new Aider session with `openai/MODEL_ID`. If you already use Aider, test in a separate terminal without editing your existing `.aider.conf.yml`.

## Choose a setup method

- First setup: set the connection in the current terminal and start Aider.
- Existing setup: use a separate test terminal and keep the original configuration.
- Chat-assisted setup: unavailable; the current Aider session cannot modify its parent process's environment.

## Before you start

- `aider --version` returns a version.
- You have an Aider-specific XiuRouter API key.
- You have selected a model suited to tools or coding tasks.

## Set the connection

In the terminal that will start Aider:

```bash
export OPENAI_API_BASE="https://router-api.xiu.ai/v1"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="YOUR_XIUROUTER_API_KEY"
```

For Windows PowerShell:

```powershell
$env:OPENAI_API_BASE = "https://router-api.xiu.ai/v1"
$env:OPENAI_API_KEY = "YOUR_XIUROUTER_API_KEY"
```

These variables apply only to new processes started from that terminal. Start Aider in a test directory:

```bash
aider --model openai/YOUR_MODEL_ID
```

The `openai/` prefix selects Aider's OpenAI-compatible provider; the model sent to XiuRouter is still `YOUR_MODEL_ID`.

## Verify

1. Start Aider in a disposable test repository.
2. Ask it to read and summarize one file without changing it.
3. Request a reversible edit to a test file and inspect the diff.
4. In XiuRouter's request inspection view, verify the key, model, `/v1/chat/completions` endpoint, and successful result.

Aider may not know a custom model's context window or editing format. Verify actual edits after text works; do not infer these settings from the model name.

## Troubleshoot

| Symptom | Next step |
| --- | --- |
| Requests still go to OpenAI | Set `OPENAI_API_BASE` in the same environment that starts Aider |
| `401` | Check that `OPENAI_API_KEY` contains a valid XiuRouter key |
| Model not found | Use `openai/YOUR_MODEL_ID` and confirm the key can see it in `/v1/models` |
| Chat works but editing fails | Choose a model with verified tool or code-editing support |

## Roll back

```bash
unset OPENAI_API_BASE
unset OPENAI_API_KEY
```

In PowerShell, close the test terminal to discard the temporary variables. Restart Aider and confirm the original provider is used. Revoke the test key when it is no longer needed.

## Sources and review date

Reviewed on 2026-08-31. This translation preserves that date. Basic setup is complete only after Aider receives a full reply and XiuRouter records the expected model, endpoint, and successful request.

Source: https://docs.xiu.ai/en/router/integrations/aider/index.mdx