Connecting UI Applications

Overview

After deploying your MCP server, you can connect it to AI applications in two ways:

• One-Click Install: Use deeplinks or CLI commands with your Bearer token
• OAuth 2.1: Full OAuth flow for apps that support it (Claude Desktop)

One-Click Integrations

MCPHero provides one-click setup buttons for popular MCP clients on your server dashboard.

Claude Code (CLI)

Add your MCP server to Claude Code with a single command:

claude mcp add --transport http <server-name> https://mcphero.app/mcp/{server_id} \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer <your-api-key>"

Cursor

Cursor supports MCP server installation via deeplinks. Click the "Add to Cursor" button on your server dashboard, or use this format:

cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=<server-name>&config=<base64-config>

The deeplink automatically configures the Authorization header with your API key.

LM Studio

LM Studio uses deeplinks for MCP server installation:

lmstudio://add_mcp?url=https://mcphero.app/mcp/{server_id}&name=<server-name>

VS Code

Add to your VS Code settings JSON:

{
  "mcp.servers": {
    "my-server": {
      "url": "https://mcphero.app/mcp/{server_id}",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <your-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

Add to your Windsurf MCP configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-server": {
      "url": "https://mcphero.app/mcp/{server_id}",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <your-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop with OAuth

Claude Desktop supports OAuth 2.1, providing a more secure authentication flow for long-running sessions.

Why OAuth?

• More secure: Tokens expire and refresh automatically
• No manual key management: Claude handles token lifecycle
• Standard protocol: Industry-standard OAuth 2.1 with PKCE

Step 1: OAuth Client Registration

MCPHero automatically registers OAuth clients for your server. Your server's OAuth metadata is available at:

https://mcphero.app/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server/mcp/{server_id}

Step 2: Add to Claude Desktop

1. Open Claude Desktop
2. Go to Settings → MCP Servers
3. Click Add Server
4. Enter your server URL: https://mcphero.app/mcp/{server_id}
5. Claude will redirect to MCPHero for authorization
6. Approve the connection
7. Claude receives and manages tokens automatically

Manual JSON Configuration

For Claude Desktop or other apps that require manual configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-server": {
      "url": "https://mcphero.app/mcp/{server_id}"
    }
  }
}

When OAuth is configured, Claude Desktop will automatically initiate the OAuth flow when connecting.

Using Bearer Token Instead

If your app doesn't support OAuth, use Bearer token authentication:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-server": {
      "url": "https://mcphero.app/mcp/{server_id}",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <your-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Find your API key on the server dashboard after deployment.