--- title: "Claude Code MCP: Connect Ken" description: "Add Ken's remote MCP server to Claude Code with OAuth or an API key: exact steps checked against the vendor's docs, example prompts and fixes." path: /mcp/claude-code family: mcp updated: 2026-10-17 html: /mcp/claude-code sources: - "https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp" - "https://code.claude.com/docs/en/setup" facts: client: "Claude Code by Anthropic" transport: "Remote HTTP" auth: "OAuth sign-in with /mcp, or an API key with --header" server_url: "https://mcp.ken.so/mcp" client_plan_needed: "Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console account (Claude Free has no Claude Code)" platforms: "Terminal on macOS, Windows and Linux, plus the IDE extensions and Desktop app" --- # 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. 1. **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/mcp ``` 2. **Sign 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. ``` /mcp ``` 3. **Check 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. 1. **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 " ``` ## 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. **Example requests in Claude Code and the Ken MCP tool that answers each one** | 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. **Common Claude Code connection problems and fixes** | 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. ## Related - [Ken MCP server](/mcp): What Ken's MCP server does and every client it works with - [Claude MCP: Connect Ken as a Custom Connector](/mcp/claude) - [ChatGPT MCP: Connect Ken as a Custom MCP Server](/mcp/chatgpt) - [Cursor MCP: Connect Ken](/mcp/cursor) - [Codex MCP: Connect Ken to OpenAI Codex](/mcp/codex) - [Gemini CLI MCP: Connect Ken](/mcp/gemini-cli) - [Connect Ken to Perplexity with MCP](/mcp/perplexity) - [Connect Ken to VS Code and GitHub Copilot with MCP](/mcp/vs-code) - [Connect Ken to Claude Desktop with MCP](/mcp/claude-desktop) - [Ken pricing](/pricing): Plans and credit prices ## Sources | Source | URL | Checked | | --- | --- | --- | | Claude Code docs: connect Claude Code to tools via MCP | https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp | 2026-10-17 | | Claude Code docs: advanced setup | https://code.claude.com/docs/en/setup | 2026-10-17 | ## Changelog - 2026-10-17: Page published.