## Overview

Add your Barndoor ToolIQ endpoint [found here](https://app.barndoor.ai/settings/ai-client-setup) to your favorite chat client. If you’re not already logged in, you’ll be redirected to Barndoor to authenticate and authorize the MCP servers you want to access.

If you ever want to see what servers you’re connected to, [click here](https://app.barndoor.ai/settings/apps).

## Connect Your Chat Client

Select your preferred AI chat client below to see detailed connection instructions:

### Claude

#### Prerequisites:

- Active Claude account (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan)
- Universal Barndoor URL

### Connection Steps

Follow the [official guide for connecting to remote MCP servers](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166-getting-started-with-custom-connectors-using-remote-mcp) for step-by-step instructions.

- Pro / Max
- Team / Enterprise (Owner)
- Team / Enterprise (Member)

1. Open Settings
   Navigate to **Settings > Connectors**.

2. Add Custom Connector
   Click **“Add custom connector”** at the bottom of the Connectors section.

3. Configure Connection
   Enter your MCP server URL (e.g., `https://{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai/mcp`). Optionally, click **“Advanced settings”** to provide an OAuth Client ID and OAuth Client Secret for your server.

4. Finish
   Click **“Add”** to save your connector.

5. Use in Conversations
   Start a new conversation — Claude will have access to your connector’s tools and data.

Only **Owners** can add custom connectors to a Team or Enterprise organization. Members connect individually after an Owner has added the connector.

1. Open Organization Settings
   Navigate to **Organization Settings > Connectors**.

2. Add Custom Connector
   Click **“Add custom connector”** at the bottom of the Connectors section.

4. Finish
   Click **“Add”** to make the connector available to your organization’s members.

Your Owner must add the custom connector to your organization before you can connect to it.

1. Open Settings
   Navigate to **Settings > Connectors**.

2. Find the Connector
   Locate the custom connector your Owner added — it will have a **“Custom”** label.

3. Connect
   Click **“Connect”** to authenticate and start using the connector with Claude.

4. Use in Conversations
   Start a new conversation — Claude will have access to your connector’s tools and data.

You can enable or disable specific connectors for individual conversations using the tools menu in the chat interface.

### ChatGPT

#### Prerequisites:

- ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise account
- MCP server OpenAPI schema

### Custom GPT with Actions

Follow the [official guide for connecting to remote MCP servers](https://developers.openai.com/apps-sdk/deploy/connect-chatgpt/).

1. Create Custom GPT
   Go to [ChatGPT](https://chat.openai.com/) and navigate to Settings → Apps → _**Create App**_.

2. Provide the metadata for your App
   - Name – a user-facing title such as Kanban board.
   - Description – explain what the connector does and when to use it. The model uses this text during discovery.
   - MCP server URL – the public /mcp endpoint of your server (for example [https://abc123.ngrok.app/mcp](https://abc123.ngrok.app/mcp)).

3. Test & Publish
   Click Create. If the connection succeeds you will see a list of the tools your server advertises. If it fails, refer to the [Testing](https://developers.openai.com/apps-sdk/deploy/testing) guide to debug your app with MCP Inspector or the API Playground.

### Cursor IDE

#### Prerequisites:

- Cursor IDE installed
- MCP server URL and API key

1. Open Settings
   Go to **Cursor** → **Settings** (or `Cmd/Ctrl + ,`)

2. Find MCP Configuration
   Navigate to **Extensions** → **MCP** or search for “MCP” in settings

3. Add Server
   Click **Add MCP Server** and configure:
   ```
   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai": {
         "url": "https://{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai/mcp"
       }
     }
   }
   ```

4. Restart Cursor
   Restart Cursor to apply changes.

### VS Code

#### Prerequisites:

- Visual Studio Code installed
- VS Code version with MCP support enabled

### Connection Steps

1. Open VS Code Settings
   Open the Command Palette (`Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P`) and select **Preferences: Open Settings (JSON)**.

2. Configure MCP Server
   Add your MCP server configuration to `settings.json`:
   ```
   {
     "mcp.servers": [\
       {\
         "name": "Your Server",\
         "url": "https://{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai/mcp"\
       }\
     ]
   }
   ```

3. Authenticate
   Authorize Barndoor and Sign in when prompted.

4. Reload Window
   Reload VS Code to activate the MCP connection.

## Troubleshooting

### Connection Failed

- Verify your server URL is correct and accessible
- Check that authentication credentials are valid
- Ensure your MCP server is running and responding to requests
- Check firewall settings if using a self-hosted server

### Tools Not Appearing

- Confirm the MCP server is properly registered
- Verify the server’s tools are correctly defined in its schema
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting the server
- Clear cache and restart the client application

### Authentication Errors

- Double-check API keys or tokens
- Verify authentication method matches your server’s requirements
- Check if tokens have expired and need renewal
- Ensure proper scopes/permissions are granted

## Security Best Practices

Never share your MCP server credentials publicly or commit them to version control.

- Use environment variables for sensitive credentials
- Implement proper authentication and authorization
- Use HTTPS for all MCP server connections
- Regularly rotate API keys and tokens
- Monitor Barndoor server logs