> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.barndoor.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect AI clients to Barndoor

> Step-by-Step: Connect your ToolIQ universal endpoint to your MCP Servers for Claude, ChatGPT, and other AI clients

## 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.

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

## Connect Your Chat Client

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

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Claude" icon="message">
    <div style={{display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: "2rem", marginBottom: "1.5rem"}}>
      <img src="https://logos.barndoor.ai/logos/logo-claude-1.png" alt="Claude AI" style={{width: "100px", height: "100px", objectFit: "contain", flexShrink: 0}} />

      <div>
        <h4 style={{marginTop: 0, marginBottom: "0.5rem"}}>Prerequisites:</h4>

        <ul style={{marginTop: 0}}>
          <li>Active Claude account (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan)</li>
          <li>Universal Barndoor URL</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>

    <h3 style={{marginTop: "2rem", marginBottom: "1rem", borderBottom: "2px solid #e5e7eb", paddingBottom: "0.5rem"}}>Connection Steps</h3>

    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.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Pro / Max">
        <Steps>
          <Step title="Open Settings">
            Navigate to **Settings > Connectors**.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Add Custom Connector">
            Click **"Add custom connector"** at the bottom of the Connectors section.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Configure Connection">
            Enter your MCP server URL (e.g., `https://{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai/mcp/mcp`).

            Optionally, click **"Advanced settings"** to provide an OAuth Client ID and OAuth Client Secret for your server.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Finish">
            Click **"Add"** to save your connector.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Use in Conversations">
            Start a new conversation — Claude will have access to your connector's tools and data.
          </Step>
        </Steps>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Team / Enterprise (Owner)">
        <Note>
          Only **Owners** can add custom connectors to a Team or Enterprise organization. Members connect individually after an Owner has added the connector.
        </Note>

        <Steps>
          <Step title="Open Organization Settings">
            Navigate to **Organization Settings > Connectors**.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Add Custom Connector">
            Click **"Add custom connector"** at the bottom of the Connectors section.
          </Step>

          <Step title="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.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Finish">
            Click **"Add"** to make the connector available to your organization's members.
          </Step>
        </Steps>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Team / Enterprise (Member)">
        <Note>
          Your Owner must add the custom connector to your organization before you can connect to it.
        </Note>

        <Steps>
          <Step title="Open Settings">
            Navigate to **Settings > Connectors**.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Find the Connector">
            Locate the custom connector your Owner added — it will have a **"Custom"** label.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Connect">
            Click **"Connect"** to authenticate and start using the connector with Claude.
          </Step>

          <Step title="Use in Conversations">
            Start a new conversation — Claude will have access to your connector's tools and data.
          </Step>
        </Steps>
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    <Tip>
      You can enable or disable specific connectors for individual conversations using the tools menu in the chat interface.
    </Tip>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ChatGPT" icon="comments">
    <div style={{display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: "2rem", marginBottom: "1.5rem"}}>
      <img src="https://logos.barndoor.ai/logos/logo-chatgpt-1.png" alt="ChatGPT" style={{width: "100px", height: "100px", objectFit: "contain", flexShrink: 0}} />

      <div>
        <h4 style={{marginTop: 0, marginBottom: "0.5rem"}}>Prerequisites:</h4>

        <ul style={{marginTop: 0}}>
          <li>ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise account</li>
          <li>MCP server OpenAPI schema</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>

    <h3 style={{marginTop: "2rem", marginBottom: "1rem", borderBottom: "2px solid #e5e7eb", paddingBottom: "0.5rem"}}>Custom GPT with Actions</h3>

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

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Create Custom GPT">
        Go to [ChatGPT](https://chat.openai.com) and navigate to Settings → Apps → ***Create App***.
      </Step>

      <Step title="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)).
      </Step>

      <Step title="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.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cursor IDE" icon="code">
    <div style={{display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: "2rem", marginBottom: "1.5rem"}}>
      <img src="https://logos.barndoor.ai/logos/symbol-logo-cursor.png" alt="Cursor IDE" style={{width: "100px", height: "100px", objectFit: "contain", flexShrink: 0}} />

      <div>
        <h4 style={{marginTop: 0, marginBottom: "0.5rem"}}>Prerequisites:</h4>

        <ul style={{marginTop: 0}}>
          <li>Cursor IDE installed</li>
          <li>MCP server URL and API key</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Settings">
        Go to **Cursor** → **Settings** (or `Cmd/Ctrl + ,`)
      </Step>

      <Step title="Find MCP Configuration">
        Navigate to **Extensions** → **MCP** or search for "MCP" in settings
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add Server">
        Click **Add MCP Server** and configure:

        ```json theme={null}
        {
          "mcpServers": {
            "{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai": {
              "url": "https://{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai/mcp"
            }
          }
        }
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Restart Cursor">
        Restart Cursor to apply changes
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="VS Code" icon="terminal">
    <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: "2rem", marginBottom: "1.5rem" }}>
      <img src="https://code.visualstudio.com/assets/updates/1_35/logo-stable.png" alt="VS Code" style={{ width: "100px", height: "100px", objectFit: "contain", flexShrink: 0 }} />

      <div>
        <h4 style={{ marginTop: 0, marginBottom: "0.5rem" }}>Prerequisites:</h4>

        <ul style={{ marginTop: 0 }}>
          <li>Visual Studio Code installed</li>
          <li>VS Code version with MCP support enabled</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>

    <h3
      style={{
marginTop: "2rem",
marginBottom: "1rem",
borderBottom: "2px solid #e5e7eb",
paddingBottom: "0.5rem",
}}
    >
      Connection Steps
    </h3>

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open VS Code Settings">
        Open the Command Palette (<code>Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P</code>

        ) and select{" "} <strong>Preferences: Open Settings (JSON)</strong>.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure MCP Server">
        Add your MCP server configuration to <code>settings.json</code>

        :

        ```json theme={null}
        {
          "mcp.servers": [
            {
              "name": "Your Server",
              "url": "https://{{your-org}}.platform.barndoor.ai/mcp"
            }
          ]
        }
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Authenticate">
        Authorize Barndoor and Sign in when prompted.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Reload Window">
        Reload VS Code to activate the MCP connection.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Connection Failed" icon="circle-xmark">
    * 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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Tools Not Appearing" icon="toolbox">
    * 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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Authentication Errors" icon="key">
    * 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
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Security Best Practices

<Warning>
  Never share your MCP server credentials publicly or commit them to version control.
</Warning>

* 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