Claude Api Integration Not Working
Claude API integrations break in 2026 at three common points: authentication (API key not passed correctly or missing from the request), request format (messages array not formatted correctly — must alternate user/assistant roles), or response handling (not reading the `content[0].text` field correctly, or not handling tool_use content blocks).
Why This Happens
- Configuration gaps between tools or services
- Missing integrations or manual workarounds that weren't designed to scale
- Changes in vendor behavior, pricing, or API that weren't communicated clearly
What To Check First
- Verify your current setup matches the vendor's latest documentation
- Look for recent changes — platform updates, new team members, configuration drift
- Check if the problem is consistent or intermittent (different root causes, different fixes)
When To Escalate
- The problem is costing you money or customers per week
- You've spent more than 2 hours on it without progress
- A vendor quoted you more than $500 and you're not sure if it's necessary
Dealing with this right now?
The fastest path to a working integration: use the official `anthropic` Python package or `@anthropic-ai/sdk` Node.js package rather than raw HTTP calls — the SDKs handle authentication headers, request formatting, and response parsing automatically. For raw HTTP: the API requires `x-api-key: YOUR_KEY` in the header (not Authorization Bearer), and the minimum valid request body is `{"model": "claude-sonnet-4-6", "max_tokens": 1024, "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]}`. Log the complete request and response for the first call to confirm the format is correct.
