Connect Claude Desktop

Connect SerpPal to Claude Desktop and claude.ai as a custom connector with a request header, or through the mcp-remote bridge in claude_desktop_config.json.

In Claude Desktop and on claude.ai, SerpPal is added as a custom connector. There are two ways, depending on what your Claude account offers:

Try A first. If your dialog has no Request headers section, use B.

You need an API key from your SerpPal Account page (see API keys) and the server address, for example https://serppal.com/mcp.

#A. Add a custom connector

1. In Claude (desktop app or claude.ai), go to Customize, then Connectors.
2. Click Add (or +), then Add custom connector.
3. Give it a name, for example SerpPal, paste the server address and click Continue.
4. Under Authentication, choose No sign-in. SerpPal uses an API key, not a sign-in page.
5. Open Request headers and add one header:
   • name: authorization (pick it from the list);
   • value: Bearer sp_live_YOUR_KEY, with the word Bearer, a space, then your key;
   • mark it Required.
6. Click Add.

To use it in a chat, click the + button in the message box, open Connectors and make sure SerpPal is on. Then ask: "List my SerpPal projects."

Good to know:

• Request headers are in beta and not every account has them yet. If you don't see the section, use way B, or connect Claude Code instead.
• On the Free plan you can add one custom connector.
• You can't edit the key later. To use a new key, remove the connector under Customize, Connectors and add it again.
• Don't add SerpPal for a whole organization. On Team and Enterprise plans, an Owner can add connectors in Organization settings, Connectors, but a request header is shared by everyone who uses the connector. Everyone would then act as the owner of that one SerpPal key. Each person should add SerpPal with their own key, or use Claude Code or way B.
• Claude reaches SerpPal from Anthropic's cloud, so nothing needs to run on your computer.

#B. Use the mcp-remote bridge (Claude Desktop)

The bridge is a small open-source tool that runs on your computer, connects to SerpPal and adds your key. It needs Node.js (version 18 or newer).

1. In Claude Desktop, open Settings, then Developer, and click Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json.
2. Add SerpPal inside mcpServers. If the file is empty, paste all of this:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "serppal": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://serppal.com/mcp", "--header", "Authorization:${SERPPAL_AUTH}"],
      "env": { "SERPPAL_AUTH": "Bearer sp_live_YOUR_KEY" }
    }
  }
}

3. Save the file and quit Claude Desktop completely, then open it again.
4. In a new chat, check that SerpPal's tools are listed (the tools or connectors button in the message box), and ask: "List my SerpPal projects."

The Claude Desktop tab on your Account page shows the same setup with the header written inline. That works on macOS and Linux; the version above, with the key in env, also works on Windows, where spaces inside args can get split.

This setup only works in the desktop app on the computer where you added it, not on claude.ai in a browser.

#Troubleshooting

The connector says it couldn't connect.

• Check the address: it must start with https:// and end with /mcp.
• Check the header value: Bearer , a space, then the full key.
• If you chose a sign-in option instead of No sign-in, remove the connector and add it again.

Claude tries to open a sign-in page. The connector was added without the request header. Remove it and add it again with No sign-in and the authorization header.

SerpPal doesn't appear in Claude Desktop after editing the config. Make sure the JSON is valid (commas between entries, matching brackets), that Node.js is installed (node -v in a terminal), and that you fully restarted Claude Desktop. Settings, Developer shows the server and its error log.

"Invalid or revoked API key..." Make a new key on your Account page and update the connector or the config file.

See also Security and limits and the Tools reference.