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Claude Desktop MCP Setup

Connect your MCP bundles to Claude Desktop to give Claude access to real-world tools and APIs.

Requirements​

  • Claude Desktop app (download from Anthropic)
  • A bundle enabled in your MCPBundles dashboard
  • Credentials connected for providers in your bundle

Time to complete: 2-3 minutes

If you have terminal access, the fastest way to connect is via the MCPBundles CLI:

pip install mcpbundles
mcpbundles init

This automatically discovers your bundles, writes the Claude Desktop MCP config, and handles authentication. No manual JSON editing needed.

After running mcpbundles init, restart Claude Desktop and your tools will be available.

Want more control? Use mcpbundles tools to browse available tools, or mcpbundles call <tool-name> to test a tool directly from your terminal.

Option B: Manual Setup​

Step-by-Step Setup​

1. Get Your Bundle URL​

  1. Log in to MCPBundles Dashboard
  2. Click on the bundle you want to use
  3. Scroll to the "Quick Setup" section (only visible when bundle is operational)
  4. Copy the MCP Server URL

2. Open Claude Desktop Settings​

  1. Open Claude Desktop app
  2. Click the settings icon (gear or menu)
  3. Navigate to Connectors or Integrations

3. Add Custom Connector​

  1. Click "Add custom connector" or "+ New"

  2. Fill out the form:

    • Name: Your bundle name (e.g., "Marketing Automation")
    • URL: Your bundle URL from step 1
    • Type: HTTP/HTTPS (if asked)

  3. Click Save or Add

4. Test the Connection​

  1. Start a new conversation in Claude Desktop
  2. Ask: "What tools do you have access to?"
  3. Claude should list all tools from your bundle

Example response:

"I have access to the following tools:

  • list_campaigns - Get email campaigns
  • create_contact - Add new contact
  • send_message - Send Slack message ..."

Using Tools in Claude Desktop​

Once connected, Claude can automatically use your tools when relevant.

Example Prompts​

Marketing analytics:

"Check my Smartlead campaigns and tell me which has the best performance"

CRM management:

"Add these 5 people to HubSpot:
- John Doe, john@example.com, CEO
- Jane Smith, jane@example.com, CTO
..."

Workflow automation:

"Check my GitHub repos, find any with open PRs, and send me a summary via Slack"

Claude will call the necessary tools, get data, and respond.

Troubleshooting​

"Connector not responding"​

Cause: URL is invalid or bundle is disabled.

Fix:

  • Verify URL copied correctly (including https://)
  • Check bundle is enabled in dashboard
  • Try removing and re-adding the connector
  • Restart Claude Desktop

"Authentication required" when calling tools​

Cause: Provider credentials not connected.

Fix:

  1. Go to Dashboard → Providers
  2. Find the provider for that tool
  3. Click Connect and complete OAuth or enter API key
  4. Try the tool again in Claude Desktop

See Provider Credentials Guide.

Tools disappeared after working​

Cause: Connector was removed or Claude Desktop lost the configuration.

Fix:

  1. Settings → Connectors
  2. Check if your connector is still listed
  3. If missing, add it again (steps 2-3 above)
  4. If present, verify the URL is correct

Claude says "I don't have access to tools"​

Possible causes:

  1. Connector not added

    • Follow steps 2-3 to add the connector

  2. Bundle disabled

    • Dashboard → Bundles → Enable your bundle

  3. App needs restart

    • Quit Claude Desktop completely
    • Reopen and wait 30 seconds

Tool fails with "Insufficient permissions"​

Cause: OAuth scopes missing.

Fix:

  1. Dashboard → Providers → [Provider]
  2. Click Reconnect
  3. Approve ALL permissions in OAuth flow
  4. Try tool again

See Scope Mismatch.

Configuration Details​

Connector Settings​

FieldValueNotes
NameYour bundle nameDisplayed in tool calls
URLhttps://mcp.mcpbundles.com/...From dashboard, must include https://
TypeHTTP/HTTPSIf asked, select this

Limitations​

Claude Desktop Constraints​

  • One conversation context: Tools available in the current conversation
  • Network required: Tools need internet access
  • Rate limits: External API rate limits apply

Bundle Readiness​

Claude can only use tools from bundles with valid credentials:

  • Ready (with "Credentials valid" subtext) - all providers configured and working
  • Setup Required (needs provider configuration for some tools)

If bundle shows "Connection Error":

  1. Go to Dashboard → Bundles → Your bundle
  2. Scroll to the "Credentials" section
  3. Find provider cards showing "Error" badges or marked "Not configured"
  4. Click "Add Credential" (or "Edit" if credential exists) on affected provider cards
  5. Add or update credentials in the credential panel
  6. Select validation tool and click "Validate Now"
  7. Restart Claude Desktop after credentials are verified

Advanced Tips​

Multiple Bundles​

Add multiple bundles:

  1. Add each as a separate connector
  2. All tools from all bundles will be available
  3. Claude will choose the right tools based on context

Tool Call Visibility​

Claude Desktop shows when it's calling tools:

  • Tool name appears in the UI
  • You can see parameters being passed
  • Results are incorporated into the response

Useful for debugging tool behavior.

Next Steps​

Need Help?​