> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.directify.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect the MCP Server to Claude, Cursor & More

> Step-by-step setup for the Directify MCP server. Connect Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible AI assistant and manage your directory in plain English.

## What is the MCP server?

The **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** is an open standard that lets AI assistants use external tools. The Directify MCP server exposes your directory's management actions — creating listings, categories, tags, custom fields, organizers, articles, and pages — as tools the AI can call.

Once connected, you simply chat:

> *"Add a listing called Bella Trattoria, Italian category, price range \$\$, and link it to the Acme Events organizer."*

…and the assistant does it for you.

## Video walkthrough

<Frame caption="Connecting the Directify MCP server to Claude">
  <iframe width="100%" height="420" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6-iYDnM38sU" title="Connect the Directify MCP server to Claude" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen />
</Frame>

## Step 1 — Get your credentials

<Steps>
  <Step title="Generate an API token">
    In your Directify dashboard, go to **Settings → API** and click the **Key icon** to generate a token. Copy it — it's shown only once.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Note your Directory ID">
    Find it in the dashboard URL (`/app/{directory_id}/...`). It's optional in most setups — if you skip it, the assistant will ask which directory to use, or you can say *"list my directories"*.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 2 — Choose remote or local

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Remote (recommended)" icon="cloud">
    Use our hosted server at `https://mcp.directify.app/mcp`. **No installation** — nothing to install or update.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Local" icon="laptop">
    Run the `directify-mcp` npm package on your own machine. Requires [Node.js 18+](https://nodejs.org).
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Step 3 — Add it to your AI client

Replace `YOUR_API_TOKEN` with your token and `YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID` with your directory's ID in the examples below.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Desktop">
    Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**, or edit the file directly:

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

    **Remote (recommended):**

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "directify": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": [
            "-y", "mcp-remote",
            "https://mcp.directify.app/mcp",
            "--header", "Authorization:Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN",
            "--header", "X-Directory-ID:YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID"
          ]
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    **Local:**

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "directify": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "directify-mcp"],
          "env": {
            "DIRECTIFY_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_API_TOKEN",
            "DIRECTIFY_DIRECTORY_ID": "YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    **Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop** (not just close the window) for the change to take effect.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    Run one command from your terminal.

    **Remote (recommended):**

    ```bash theme={null}
    claude mcp add directify -- npx -y mcp-remote \
      https://mcp.directify.app/mcp \
      --header "Authorization:Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
      --header "X-Directory-ID:YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID"
    ```

    **Local:**

    ```bash theme={null}
    claude mcp add directify \
      --env DIRECTIFY_API_TOKEN=YOUR_API_TOKEN \
      --env DIRECTIFY_DIRECTORY_ID=YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID \
      -- npx -y directify-mcp
    ```

    Verify it's connected with `claude mcp list`.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Cursor">
    Create or edit `.cursor/mcp.json` in your project (or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` for all projects).

    **Remote (recommended):**

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "directify": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": [
            "-y", "mcp-remote",
            "https://mcp.directify.app/mcp",
            "--header", "Authorization:Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN",
            "--header", "X-Directory-ID:YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID"
          ]
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    **Local:**

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "directify": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "directify-mcp"],
          "env": {
            "DIRECTIFY_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_API_TOKEN",
            "DIRECTIFY_DIRECTORY_ID": "YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    Then open **Cursor Settings → MCP** and confirm `directify` shows a green dot.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Other clients">
    Any MCP-compatible client that supports remote servers can connect via the [`mcp-remote`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/mcp-remote) bridge using the same pattern:

    ```bash theme={null}
    npx -y mcp-remote https://mcp.directify.app/mcp \
      --header "Authorization:Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
      --header "X-Directory-ID:YOUR_DIRECTORY_ID"
    ```

    For clients that natively support remote MCP over OAuth (such as Claude.ai web connectors), add `https://mcp.directify.app/mcp` as the server URL and complete the sign-in prompt instead of passing a token header.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Note>
  The `X-Directory-ID` / `DIRECTIFY_DIRECTORY_ID` value is **optional**. Omit it to let the assistant work across all your directories — it'll ask which one to use, or you can call `list_directories`.
</Note>

## Step 4 — Try it out

Restart your AI client, then ask:

> *"List my Directify directories."*

> *"Create a listing called 'Blue Bottle Coffee' in the Cafés category."*

> *"What custom fields does this directory have? Add a filterable 'Price Range' select field with options \$, \$\$, \$\$\$."*

> *"Create an organizer 'Acme Events' and link these three listings to it."*

## What can it do?

The MCP server exposes tools for every major part of your directory:

| Area              | Examples                                                                                               |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Directories**   | list directories you own                                                                               |
| **Listings**      | list, get, create, update, delete, bulk-create, check-exists, set custom field values, link organizers |
| **Categories**    | list, get, create, update, delete                                                                      |
| **Tags**          | list, get, create, update, delete                                                                      |
| **Custom Fields** | list, get, create, update, delete field definitions                                                    |
| **Organizers**    | list, get, create, update, delete                                                                      |
| **Articles**      | list, get, create, update, delete, toggle published                                                    |
| **Custom Pages**  | list, get, create, update, delete, toggle published                                                    |

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The server doesn't appear / shows as failed">
    * Make sure you have **Node.js 18+** installed (`node --version`) — `npx` needs it.
    * **Fully quit and reopen** Claude Desktop (closing the window isn't enough).
    * Double-check the JSON is valid (no trailing commas, matched brackets).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="&#x22;Authentication failed&#x22; or 401 errors">
    Your API token is missing, mistyped, or revoked. Generate a fresh one at **Settings → API** and update your config. The header format is exactly `Authorization:Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN` (note the single space after `Bearer`).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="&#x22;Access denied&#x22; or directory not found">
    The token must belong to the account that **owns** the directory, and the `X-Directory-ID` must be one of your directories. Ask the assistant to *"list my directories"* to see valid IDs.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Rate limited (429)">
    The API allows **120 requests per minute** per directory. For large bulk jobs, ask the assistant to batch the work or slow down.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Tip>
  Prefer the terminal or want to script things? Use the [Directify CLI](/ai-tools/cli) instead — same actions, no AI required.
</Tip>