---
title: "Connect your AI assistant to Chat Thing"
description: "Add the Chat Thing MCP server to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Codex, VS Code, Windsurf, Zed or Cline and approve access in your browser."
canonical_url: "https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/connect"
last_updated: "2026-09-25"
---

# Connect your AI assistant to Chat Thing

Connect your AI assistant to Chat Thing once, and it can build and manage your bots whenever you ask.

> **What you need**
>
> A Chat Thing account ([sign up free](https://app.chatthing.ai/app/auth/register)) and an AI assistant that can add a remote MCP server over HTTP (sometimes called "Streamable HTTP" or a "custom connector"). Every client below does.
>
> **Who can do this:** anyone with a Chat Thing account. Your assistant can only change bots in teams where you're an [owner or admin](https://chatthing.ai/docs/account/teams#what-each-role-can-do).

## The Chat Thing MCP address

Every assistant connects to the same address:

```text
https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp
```

You don't paste a password or key. The first time your assistant connects, it opens a Chat Thing page in your browser. Sign in if asked, check the request and click **Approve**. See [Authentication](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/authentication) for what you're approving.

You can also find this address, and a ready-made setup prompt, on the **Connect agent** page in the Chat Thing app.

> **Let your assistant set itself up**
>
> On the **Connect agent** page, click **Copy setup prompt** and paste it into your assistant. It reads this page and follows the steps for the client it's running in. If you're an AI agent reading this page: work out which client you are running in, follow that section below, then ask the user to approve access in their browser.

## Desktop and web apps

These apps don't use a config file. You add Chat Thing from a settings screen and approve access in the same window.

### Claude Desktop and Claude.ai

The Claude desktop app and Claude.ai use the same connectors screen. This is the Claude app, not the [Claude Code](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/connect#claude-code) command-line tool, and you can use either or both.

1. Open **Settings → Connectors**.
2. Click **Add** and choose **Add custom connector**.
   ![Claude Connectors settings with the Add menu open and Add custom connector highlighted](https://res.cloudinary.com/djyjvrw5u/image/upload/v1783956443/docs/mcp/claude-connectors-add-menu.png)
3. Enter the name `Chat Thing` and the URL `https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp`, then click **Add**. Leave the advanced OAuth client ID and secret fields blank: Chat Thing registers Claude automatically.
   ![Claude Add custom connector dialog with the name Chat Thing and the Chat Thing MCP URL filled in](https://res.cloudinary.com/djyjvrw5u/image/upload/v1783956445/docs/mcp/claude-add-custom-connector.png)
4. Click **Connect** on the new connector and approve access on the Chat Thing page that opens.

Chat Thing now appears in your connectors list, and its tools are available in new chats.

### ChatGPT

ChatGPT connects to MCP servers through its developer mode:

1. Open **Settings → Apps & Connectors → Advanced settings** and turn on **Developer mode**.
2. Back on **Apps & Connectors**, click **Create** to add a connector.
3. Enter the name `Chat Thing` and the URL `https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp`, choose **OAuth** for authentication, and create it.
4. Approve access on the Chat Thing page that opens.

ChatGPT is a separate product from Codex. For Codex, see [Codex app](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/connect#codex-app) or [Codex CLI](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/connect#codex-cli).

### Codex app

The [Codex](https://developers.openai.com/codex) desktop app stores MCP servers in the same `~/.codex/config.toml` file as the [Codex CLI](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/connect#codex-cli).

1. Open **Settings → Plugins**, select the **MCPs** tab and click **Add server**.
   ![Codex Plugins settings on the MCPs tab with the Add server button](https://res.cloudinary.com/djyjvrw5u/image/upload/v1783956448/docs/mcp/codex-mcps-add-server.png)
2. Enter the name `Chat Thing`, set **Type** to **Streamable HTTP** and paste `https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp`. Leave the bearer token and header fields empty to connect with your browser (only fill in a bearer token if you're using an [API key](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/authentication#use-an-api-key)). Click **Save**.
   ![Codex custom MCP form set to Streamable HTTP with the Chat Thing MCP URL](https://res.cloudinary.com/djyjvrw5u/image/upload/v1783956449/docs/mcp/codex-connect-custom-mcp.png)
3. Restart the server if Codex asks you to, then approve access on the Chat Thing page that opens.

## Coding assistants and editors

These clients connect by running one command or adding a few lines to a config file. The first time the assistant uses Chat Thing, it opens your browser so you can approve access.

### Claude Code

Run this in your terminal:

```bash
claude mcp add chatthing --transport http https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp
```

### Codex CLI

Add the server to `~/.codex/config.toml`:

```toml
[mcp_servers.chatthing]
url = "https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp"
```

### Cursor

Add the server to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chatthing": {
      "url": "https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### Windsurf

Add the server to `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chatthing": {
      "serverUrl": "https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code

Add the server to `.vscode/mcp.json` in your workspace:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "chatthing": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### Zed

Add the server to your Zed `settings.json` (open it with `zed: open settings file`):

```json
{
  "context_servers": {
    "chatthing": {
      "url": "https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

When no `Authorization` header is set, Zed asks you to sign in through your browser.

### Cline

Add the server to Cline's MCP settings (`cline_mcp_settings.json`). Set `type` to `streamableHttp` so it uses the current transport:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chatthing": {
      "type": "streamableHttp",
      "url": "https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### Other assistants

Chat Thing follows the MCP standard, so any client that supports remote MCP servers over HTTP can connect. Use your client's usual way of adding an HTTP MCP server and point it at `https://app.chatthing.ai/mcp`.

## Check it works

Ask your assistant:

> List my Chat Thing bots.

It should reply with the bots in your account. Your assistant now appears under **Connected agents** on the **Connect agent** page in Chat Thing.

Next, try [building a bot with your assistant](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/build-a-bot), or see [everything it can do](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/tools).

## Troubleshooting

### My assistant can't open a browser

Scripts, CI jobs and some headless agents can't complete the browser approval. Use an [API key](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/authentication#use-an-api-key) instead.

### The approval page says the request has expired

Approval links are single-use and time out. Go back to your assistant and start the connection again.

### My assistant says it can't change a bot

Your assistant can read every team you belong to, but can only change bots in teams where you're an **Owner** or **Admin**. See [What your assistant can access](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/authentication#what-your-assistant-can-access).

### My assistant stopped working after I revoked it

Revoked assistants lose access within an hour. To use it again, reconnect by asking it to use Chat Thing and approving access again.

## Related

- [Control what your AI assistant can access](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/authentication): How AI assistants sign in to Chat Thing, what they can read and change, how to use an API key for scripts and CI, and how to revoke access.
- [Build a bot with your AI assistant](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/build-a-bot): Go from one prompt to a tested support bot using your AI assistant and the Chat Thing MCP server, and learn what a good build looks like.
- [What your AI assistant can do in Chat Thing](https://chatthing.ai/docs/mcp/tools): Every tool the Chat Thing MCP server gives your AI assistant, from creating bots and adding knowledge to webhooks, tests and conversations.