Claude Code ECONNRESET — Unable to connect to Anthropic API

What this error means

Unable to connect to API (ECONNRESET) is a Claude Code failure pattern reported for developers trying to fix claude code econnreset errors when connecting to the anthropic api. Based on the imported evidence, treat this as a tool-specific troubleshooting page rather than a generic API error.

Why this happens

GitHub issue #13657 on anthropics/claude-code (28 comments, closed) reports ECONNRESET on macOS with Opus 4.5. User confirmed DNS/TCP/TLS/HTTP2 all functional, pointing to a transient upstream or client-side connection handling bug. VS Code extension also reports ‘Failed to export telemetry events’ errors simultaneously.

Common causes

• Claude Code users experience sudden ECONNRESET failures despite healthy network connectivity — DNS, TCP, TLS, and HTTP/2 all working. The error appears in both CLI (Unable to connect to API (ECONNRESET)) and VS Code extension telemetry, making the tool completely unusable until the issue resolves.
• GitHub issue #13657 on anthropics/claude-code (28 comments, closed) reports ECONNRESET on macOS with Opus 4.5. User confirmed DNS/TCP/TLS/HTTP2 all functional, pointing to a transient upstream or client-side connection handling bug. VS Code extension also reports ‘Failed to export telemetry events’ errors simultaneously.

Quick fixes

1. Confirm the exact error signature matches Unable to connect to API (ECONNRESET).
2. Check the Claude Code account, local tool state, and provider configuration involved in the failing workflow.
3. Compare the failing environment with a known working setup, then change one configuration value at a time.

Platform/tool-specific checks

• Verify the command, editor, extension, or API client that produced the error.
• Compare local settings with CI, deployment, or editor-level settings when the error appears in only one environment.
• Avoid deleting credentials, local model data, or project settings until the failing scope is clear.

Step-by-step troubleshooting

1. Capture the exact error message and the command, editor action, or request that triggered it.
2. Check whether the failure is account/auth, quota/rate, model/provider, local runtime, or deployment configuration.
3. Review the source evidence below and compare it with your environment.
4. Apply one change at a time and rerun the smallest failing action.
5. Keep the working fix documented for the team or deployment environment.

How to prevent it

• Keep provider/tool configuration documented.
• Record non-secret diagnostics such as tool version, provider name, model name, and command path.
• Add a lightweight check before CI or production workflows depend on the tool.

Sources checked

• https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/13657

Evidence note: GitHub issue #13657 on anthropics/claude-code (28 comments, closed) reports ECONNRESET on macOS with Opus 4.5. User confirmed DNS/TCP/TLS/HTTP2 all functional, pointing to a transient upstream or client-side connection handling bug. VS Code extension also reports ‘Failed to export telemetry events’ errors simultaneously.

Related errors

• Claude Code ETIMEDOUT on WSL2
• Claude Code 503 Service Unavailable
• Claude Code auth token expired unexpectedly

FAQ

What should I check first?

Start with the exact Unable to connect to API (ECONNRESET) text and the smallest action that reproduces it.

Can I ignore this error?

No. Treat it as a failed Claude Code workflow until the root cause is understood.

Is this guaranteed to have one fix?

No. The imported evidence supports the troubleshooting path above, but tool behavior can vary by account, plan, version, provider, and local configuration.

How do I know the fix worked?

Rerun the same command, editor action, or request. The fix is working when that action completes without Unable to connect to API (ECONNRESET).