How to Use MCP Connectors with Claude Pro (Step-by-Step)

What MCP connectors do

MCP — the Model Context Protocol — is Anthropic's standard for connecting Claude to external tools. When you add an MCP connector, Claude gains new tools it can call during a conversation: search a database, read a file, check an API, look up a record.

The most common use case: memory. Instead of Claude starting every conversation from scratch, you connect a persistent store. Claude can search it, add to it, and reference it across all your conversations. This is the memory layer that custom instructions alone can't provide.

Other connectors add tools like web search, GitHub access, calendar integration, and more. Anthropic maintains a directory and third-party developers publish their own.

What you need

• Claude Pro subscription (or Team/Enterprise). MCP connectors are not available on the free tier.
• An MCP connector URL. This is a URL pointing to an MCP-compatible server. You'll get one from whoever built the tool you want to add.
• That's it. No coding required.

How to add an MCP connector: step by step

Step 1: Open Claude settings

Go to claude.ai. Click your profile icon in the bottom-left corner of the sidebar. Select Settings.

Step 2: Find Integrations

In Settings, select the Integrations tab (sometimes listed as "Connectors" or "MCP"). This is where all your connected tools are managed.

Step 3: Add a connector

Click Add Integration (or "Add connector"). You'll see a field for the connector URL and a name.

Step 4: Paste the URL and save

Enter a name for the connector (e.g. "Stash") and paste the URL. Click Save. Claude will connect to the server and import the available tools.

Step 5: Authorise (if required)

Some connectors require authentication — usually Google OAuth or similar. You'll be redirected to a sign-in page. After signing in, you'll be sent back to Claude with the connector active.

Step 6: Test it

Start a new conversation. Ask Claude to use the tool. For a memory connector: "Save this to my notes: [something]" or "What do you have in my context?"

Which MCP connectors are worth adding?

The landscape is growing fast. Some reliable categories:

• Memory/notes: Store information that persists across all Claude conversations. Stash does this.
• Web search: Let Claude search the web during a conversation. Brave Search MCP is popular.
• File access: Let Claude read files from your computer or cloud storage.
• GitHub: Let Claude read and write to repositories.
• Calendar/tasks: Let Claude check your schedule and manage tasks.

Try Stash as your first MCP connector

Stash is a hosted MCP record store — built specifically for Claude. When you connect it:

• Claude gets a search() tool: retrieve any record by keyword or tag
• Claude gets a context() tool: load your standing context in one call
• Your data is stored in a private dedicated store — not shared with anyone
• Free tier: 2,500 records, 50 searches a month

Stash connector URL:

https://app.stashlite.com/mcp

Paste that URL into the Integrations field in Claude Settings. You'll be asked to sign in with Google. After sign-in, you get a private account with a pre-seeded context collection ready to fill in.

Then tell Claude: "Check my context." It will show you your standing context and prompt you to fill in your role, projects, and preferences.

Add Stash to Claude →

Troubleshooting

The connector isn't showing up in conversations

Make sure you're starting a fresh conversation after adding the connector. Existing conversations don't automatically inherit new connectors.

Claude says it can't use the tool

Some connectors need a server restart or re-authentication. Try removing and re-adding the connector. If it uses OAuth, re-authorise.

Authentication keeps failing

Check that your browser isn't blocking pop-ups from claude.ai. The OAuth redirect opens in a new tab or pop-up — if blocked, the auth won't complete.

The connector works in the browser but not in Claude Code

Claude Code uses different MCP configuration — you add connectors via the command line, not the web UI. See Anthropic's Claude Code docs for the CLI setup.