MCP clients
Claude Code MCP: Connect Ken
Claude Code connects to Ken's remote MCP server over HTTP. Run claude mcp add --transport http ken with Ken's server URL, then run /mcp inside Claude Code and sign in to Ken in your browser. A Ken API key also works as a Bearer header.
How Do You Connect Ken to Claude Code?
In short Add https://mcp.ken.so/mcp as a remote MCP server in Claude Code, then sign in to Ken in your browser.
Add Ken as a Remote HTTP Server
Run this in your terminal. It adds Ken for the current project only. Add --scope user to use Ken in every project, or --scope project to share it with your team through .mcp.json.
claude mcp add --transport http ken https://mcp.ken.so/mcpSign In with /mcp
Start Claude Code with claude, run /mcp, select ken and choose to authenticate. Your browser opens the Ken sign-in. Sign in with the account you use in the Ken app, then select Allow access on the Ken approval screen. You never paste a client ID or secret. Claude Code stores the token and refreshes it on its own.
/mcpCheck the Connection
Run claude mcp list. Ken shows Connected once the sign-in worked, or Needs authentication if it did not.
claude mcp list
Can You Use a Ken API Key Instead of OAuth?
In short Yes. Claude Code can send your Ken API key as a Bearer token when a browser sign-in is not an option.
Use a Ken API Key Instead of OAuth
Create a key in the Ken app under Settings > Integrations > API Keys, then pass it as a header. This suits headless runs and CI, where no browser can open. Claude Code saves the server without checking the key, so a wrong key only fails on the first call.
claude mcp add --transport http ken https://mcp.ken.so/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer <KEN_API_KEY>"
What Can You Ask Ken From Claude Code?
In short Ask in plain language. The client picks the Ken tool, and Ken runs it with your workspace role.
| Ask | Ken tool used | What the tool does |
|---|---|---|
| Find VPs of Sales at US software companies with 50 to 200 employees. | search_read | Searches Ken's people and company database and returns filter facets. |
| Load Ken's campaign-planning skill and plan a 3-step cold email campaign for that list. | load_skill | Loads one Ken workflow skill, such as campaign-planning, into the chat. |
| Before I launch, preview who lands in the Series B segment. | segments_read | Previews which contacts land in a campaign segment. |
| How many emails a day can this campaign send with the inboxes it has? | campaign_flow_read | Estimates how many emails a campaign can send with its inboxes. |
| Which of my campaigns are running right now? | campaigns_read | Lists campaigns and reads one campaign's settings and status. |
| How did my campaigns do this week? Show sends, replies and bounces for each one. | analytics_read | Reads campaign performance, engagement, deliverability and reply classifications. |
| Show me the replies that came in today and summarize each one. | threads_read | Lists inbox threads and reads their messages. |
Admins and members get read and write tools. View-only members get read tools plus inbox replies.
What If Ken Does Not Connect in Claude Code?
In short Most failures come from a skipped sign-in step or a client setting.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| claude mcp list shows Needs authentication | Run /mcp inside Claude Code, select ken and sign in. To start over, use Clear authentication in the /mcp menu, or run claude mcp logout ken and sign in again. |
| claude mcp list shows Failed to connect | Run claude mcp get ken. Its Issue line shows the HTTP status or error. A trailing space or newline in a pasted URL or key is a common cause. |
| A Ken tool answers "Missing scope" | Part of the Ken approval screen was declined. Remove Ken from the client, add it again and select Allow access. |
| Ken answers 401 with an API key | The key was revoked or mistyped. Create a new one in the Ken app under Settings > Integrations > API Keys. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use --scope user or --scope project for Ken?
Use --scope user to have Ken in every project on your machine. Use --scope project to write Ken into .mcp.json so teammates get it too. Each person still signs in with their own Ken account.
Does Claude Code use a Ken connector I added on claude.ai?
Yes, when you sign in to Claude Code with a claude.ai subscription. Claude Code fetches claude.ai connectors only for that login method.
Which Claude plan do I need for Claude Code?
Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or a Console account. The free claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code.
How do I remove Ken from Claude Code?
Run claude mcp remove ken. Removing a remote server also deletes its stored OAuth tokens.
What can Claude Code change in my Ken workspace?
Only what your Ken role allows. Admins and members get read and write tools, including campaign launches. View-only members get read tools plus inbox replies. Ken checks your role on every call, so a role change applies right away.
The new Ken opens to the waiting list in batches.
Related
- Ken MCP server
What Ken's MCP server does and every client it works with
- Claude MCP: Connect Ken as a Custom Connector
- ChatGPT MCP: Connect Ken as a Custom MCP Server
- Cursor MCP: Connect Ken
- Codex MCP: Connect Ken to OpenAI Codex
- Gemini CLI MCP: Connect Ken
- Connect Ken to Perplexity with MCP
- Connect Ken to VS Code and GitHub Copilot with MCP
- Connect Ken to Claude Desktop with MCP
- Ken pricing
Plans and credit prices
Sources
| Source | Checked |
|---|---|
| Claude Code docs: connect Claude Code to tools via MCP | |
| Claude Code docs: advanced setup |
Changelog
- Page published.