How to Use Claude with Rider | Setup Guide for .NET and Unity
"I want to use Claude in JetBrains Rider, but I'm not sure if it's supported or how to set it up" — this article answers exactly that question. The short answer: Rider is an IDE that works well with Claude, and there are three ways to integrate it. This article focuses on Rider-specific development scenarios such as .NET / C#, Unity, and Unreal Engine, and covers all three integration methods with step-by-step instructions, the built-in integration introduced in Rider 2025.2, and common pitfalls — all based on official documentation.
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Three Ways to Use Claude in Rider
The first thing to understand is that there is no standalone product called "Claude Rider." What exists is a mechanism for connecting Claude's coding assistance to your existing Rider installation, and there are three routes to do so:
- Install the official Anthropic Claude Code plugin (Beta) in Rider
- Use Claude built into JetBrains AI (no additional subscription required)
- Control Rider from Claude Desktop or similar tools via the MCP server built into Rider 2025.2
If you want everything self-contained within Rider, go with option 1 or 2. If you want Claude Desktop to be the primary interface and Rider to serve as a connected tool, go with option 3. Each differs in terms of who manages the subscription and how the workflow feels, so let's go through them one by one.
Route 1: Install the Claude Code Plugin in Rider
The official Anthropic Claude Code plugin works in Rider just as it does in IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm. Rather than being GUI panel-centric, it integrates Claude's CLI with Rider's terminal, diff viewer, and diagnostic information. Here are the setup steps:
- Install the "Claude Code [Beta]" plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace
- Fully restart Rider (multiple restarts may be required for changes to take effect)
- Run
claudein Rider's integrated terminal (connect from an external terminal using the/idecommand) - Use
/configto set the diff tool toautoso diffs are displayed within Rider
Once the integration is active, you can use quick launch with Ctrl+Esc, view code changes as IDE diffs, automatically share selected ranges from the editor, insert file references, and automatically share lint and syntax errors (Claude Code Official Documentation — JetBrains). An Anthropic account subscription (Pro or higher) is required; the free plan is not supported.
Route 2: Use Claude Built into JetBrains AI
In September 2025, JetBrains integrated Claude — based on the Claude Agent SDK — directly into its AI features as a standard offering. This is included in the JetBrains AI subscription at no additional cost, with no separate plugin installation or direct Anthropic contract required (JetBrains AI Blog).
It offers the following four key capabilities:
- Review edits across multiple files side by side with a diff preview before accepting
- Approval-based operation that will not edit files or run commands without user confirmation (changeable via Brave mode)
- Plan mode that presents the implementation approach first, separating "thinking" from "execution"
- Context management that lets you add files, folders, and images as context
Technically, it leverages the same foundation as Claude Code (context management, file operations, tool calls, and code execution). If your company or you personally already have a JetBrains AI subscription, this is the fastest route — zero configuration required.
Route 3: MCP Server Built into Rider 2025.2
Starting with version 2025.2, Rider includes a built-in MCP server. This allows external clients such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, and Codex to access Rider's tools (JetBrains Rider Official Documentation). To enable it:
- Confirm the plugin is enabled (it is on by default)
- Go to Settings → Tools → MCP Server and run the automatic configuration
- Restart the client (e.g., Claude Desktop)
The exposed tools are broad, covering analysis such as project builds and issue detection, symbol lookups, file creation, reading, and refactoring, running configurations and terminal commands, database connections and query execution, and inspection validation. If you want actions to run without confirmation, you can enable "Brave mode," but leaving approval on is safer for production projects.
Use Cases for .NET / C# Development
Rider is the IDE of choice for .NET / C# development. Combining it with Claude lets you work on solution-wide refactoring suggestions, test code generation for xUnit / NUnit, rewrites involving LINQ and async/await, and NuGet dependency cleanup — all while referencing Rider's diagnostic information. Via the MCP server, Claude can run through the full cycle of detecting a build error, fixing the affected code, and rebuilding via a run configuration using Rider's own tools, reducing the back-and-forth between terminal and editor.
Use Cases for Unity and Unreal Engine Development
Rider is also a standard choice for game development, with official support for both Unity and Unreal Engine. For Unity, you can use Claude to help with C# script component design and event function implementation. For Unreal Engine, it can help scaffold C++ gameplay classes. In fact, real-world examples of combining Rider with Claude Code for Unreal Engine development have been published, showing a practical workflow that pairs IDE autocompletion and debugging with Claude's generation capabilities (SharkPillow's Rider + Claude Code Case Study).
Common Pitfalls
Here is a summary of Rider-specific issues and how to address them:
- IDE not detected → Make sure you launched from the project root, then fully restart Rider
- Plugin not connecting on native Windows → A known issue has been reported; update both Rider and Claude Code to their latest versions (GitHub Issue #2273)
- Compatibility errors with the latest version → Check that the plugin and CLI versions are compatible (GitHub Issue #22549)
- Cannot interrupt processing with ESC → Go to Settings → Tools → Terminal and disable "Move focus to the editor with Escape"
Summary
The answer to "Claude Rider" is not a dedicated editor, but rather Claude integration within Rider. There are three routes: the official Anthropic Claude Code plugin, Claude built into JetBrains AI, and the MCP server in Rider 2025.2 — all of which are practical for .NET / C#, Unity, and Unreal Engine development. Start by choosing the route that fits your current subscription, and try it out with a small refactoring task first. For a comparison of all supported IDEs including those beyond Rider, see our Claude Compatible IDE Overview.
Sources: Claude Code Official Documentation (JetBrains IDEs) / JetBrains Rider MCP Server / JetBrains AI Blog / Anthropic Customer Story (JetBrains)
