Connect Erlin to an MCP client

Connect Erlin to Claude by adding https://mcp.erlin.ai/mcp as a custom connector and signing in to Erlin. This OAuth method takes about a minute and needs no key, terminal or config file. Claude Code and config files connect with an Erlin API key instead.

MCP comes with the Standard, Pro and Enterprise plans. Free and Starter do not include it. See Plans and billing. The MCP key is separate from provider keys such as OpenRouter in API keys.

1. Add the server

To connect with OAuth (recommended) in the Claude Desktop app:

1. Open Settings in Claude Desktop

   Click your profile icon in the bottom-left corner, then click Settings.

2. Open Connectors

   In Settings, click Connectors.

3. Add a custom connector

   Click Add custom connector and paste this URL:

   https://mcp.erlin.ai/mcp

4. Sign in and approve

   Click Connect. Your browser opens Erlin. Sign in, review the request to access your Erlin account, and click Approve.

If your plan does not include MCP, the Erlin sign-in screen says "Your plan doesn't include MCP" and shows Upgrade and Deny instead of Approve.

2. Keep credentials separate from conversation text

Claude Code and the config-file method send an Erlin API key in the X-API-Key header. Your key lives in Settings > MCP in Erlin, which only the account owner sees. Erlin creates the key the first time you open the section and shows it in full once: copy it right away, because afterwards Erlin shows only its start. Erlin API keys start with ek_live_.

To replace a lost or exposed key, click New key, then Make a new key. The old key stops working straight away, so update every client that uses it. Never paste a key into a chat message or a support request.

Claude Code. Run this in your terminal, with your key in place of <your key>:

claude mcp add --transport http erlin-ai https://mcp.erlin.ai/mcp --header "X-API-Key: <your key>"

Config file. You can add Erlin to Claude Desktop by editing its config file. This method runs the mcp-remote bridge, so it needs Node.js installed. Open the config file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Add Erlin, with your key in place of <your key>, then save the file and restart Claude Desktop:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "erlin-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-remote", "https://mcp.erlin.ai/mcp", "--header", "X-API-Key:${ERLIN_API_KEY}"],
      "env": { "ERLIN_API_KEY": "<your key>" }
    }
  }
}

3. Confirm the connection

Erlin appears in your connectors list. Ask Claude "What websites do I have in Erlin?" Claude uses erlin_list_websites to list the websites in your account. If you track more than one, name the website you mean before asking about its results.

Troubleshoot the failed step

Still stuck? Contact Support or email help@erlin.ai with the error and time, but never your key.