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How to connect an MCP server

Step-by-step setup for Claude Desktop, Claude Code, ChatGPT, and Cursor. The JSON config is the same across clients — only where you paste it differs.

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard from Anthropic that lets AI assistants connect to external tools and data through a single interface. MCPBay hosts servers on subdomain.mcpbay.pro that you can plug into any compatible client as a remote MCP server.

All MCPBay servers use the Streamable HTTP transport. That means you only need to paste a URL — no local installation, no stdio setup.

The config format is the same in every client

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "smartcart": {
      "url": "https://smartcart.mcpbay.pro"
    }
  }
}

Here "smartcart" is just one example server, not a connection to all of them at once. Each server is added as its own entry: copy its address from the server's page in the catalog and paste it in place of the example.

Choose your AI client:

  1. Open Claude Desktop settings: ⌘ + , (macOS) or Ctrl + , (Windows).
  2. Switch to the "Developer" tab and click "Edit Config" — this opens claude_desktop_config.json.
  3. Add the server to the mcpServers section (see example below) and save the file.
  4. Fully restart Claude Desktop. The new server will appear in the tools dropdown under the input field.
Screenshot To be added
Steps 1–2: Settings → Developer tab

The config file lives at:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json   # macOS
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json                       # Windows
Screenshot To be added
Step 4: server in the tools list

The fastest way is the claude mcp add command in your terminal. It edits the correct config (~/.claude.json or .mcp.json in the project root) for you.

claude mcp add smartcart https://smartcart.mcpbay.pro

If you prefer manual edits, the format matches Claude Desktop:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "smartcart": {
      "url": "https://smartcart.mcpbay.pro"
    }
  }
}

After adding, run /mcp in Claude Code to see connected servers and reload them without restarting the CLI.

Works on any paid ChatGPT plan — Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise, or Edu. MCP connectors aren't available on the Free plan yet.

Окно «Create connector» в настройках ChatGPT: поля имени и MCP Server URL
Steps 3–5: name, URL, and auth type in the "New Connector" dialog
  1. Open Settings → "Apps & Connectors".
  2. Go to "Advanced settings" and turn on "Developer mode" — you only need to do this once.
  3. Go back to "Apps & Connectors" and click "Create".
  4. Enter any name (e.g. "SmartCart") and paste the service URL: https://smartcart.mcpbay.pro.
  5. Under "Authentication", pick the auth type. If the MCP server is open and needs no sign-in, leave "No authentication". If the server requires authorization (like SmartCart), choose "OAuth". Then click "Create".
  6. If you chose "OAuth", ChatGPT opens a sign-in window — authenticate there and the connector is ready.
  7. In a chat, click "+" below the input → pick your connector → ask your question.

Rule of thumb: "No authentication" is only for free, open servers. If a connector won't connect or its tools stay silent, it's almost always because a server that needs authorization was left on "No authentication" instead of "OAuth".

  1. Open Cursor Settings (⌘ + , on macOS or Ctrl + , on Windows/Linux).
  2. Go to the "MCP" section in the left sidebar.
  3. Click "+ Add new MCP server" and paste the JSON config.
  4. Save — Cursor picks up changes without a restart.

Troubleshooting

Server does not appear in the list

Check JSON syntax (missing or extra commas). Most clients silently ignore a malformed config.

Server appears but tools do not respond

Open the URL in a browser — if you see 404 or a TLS error, the server is unreachable. Reach out to support@mcpbay.pro.

Claude Desktop ignores config changes

The config is only re-read on a full restart. Closing the window is not enough. On macOS use Cmd + Q, on Windows quit from the system tray.

MCP usage tracking

MCPs hosted on MCPBay connect only after you sign in with your mcpbay.pro account — tool calls to such MCPs are attributed to your account automatically. While an MCP stays in your "My MCPs" collection, mcpbay.pro records your tool calls for it: tool name, status and duration — never arguments or content. Removing the MCP from the collection immediately stops recording of free calls; paid-call records are kept as financial history. Raw events are retained for 90 days. MCPs with their own authorization link via a one-time code and are governed by the same collection rule.

Ready to start?

Open the catalog and pick a server to connect.

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