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Claude retrieves open-access full text without credentials. To reach paywalled text you’re entitled to, add publisher keys or your library’s proxy in the Claude Science app: select the gear icon and choose Settings, then select Credentials, then choose Literature access (journals, etc.) in the Services list. No key bypasses a paywall.
These panels live in the Claude Science app’s own Settings, separate from your claude.ai account and organization settings. If you’ve added custom credentials, the Services list appears below your Custom credentials.
Given a DOI or title, Claude tries in order: an open-access copy (Unpaywall, Semantic Scholar, PubMed Central), CrossRef full-text links, publisher routes you hold keys for, your library proxy, then the publisher page. Retrieved files (PDF, XML, or text) are saved into the session.

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Available credentials

Each credential in the Literature access (journals, etc.) form is optional and independent. OpenAlex has its own entry in the same Services list: add a free OpenAlex API key there (create one on the OpenAlex API settings page). OpenAlex requires a key on every request, so OpenAlex-backed literature search needs one configured. NCBI, EBI, and OurResearch (Unpaywall) ask callers to provide a contact email. The first time this applies, a Share a contact email with research data services? card appears. Sharing an email enables the Unpaywall step. You can also set this in the app’s Settings, on the General tab, under Contact email. Claude paces requests to each provider at one per second, backs off when asked, and identifies itself in every request. Paywalled HTML isn’t scraped.