# Connect an AI assistant with MCP

Connect Claude Code or another MCP client to Rookery with an API key. It can read your mail, add notes, draft replies and ask for documents.

For developers · Updated October 11, 2026 · https://userookery.com/help/connect-with-mcp/

MCP is a standard way for AI assistants to use other apps. Rookery has an MCP server, so an assistant like Claude Code can work in your inbox, with the permissions you give it.

## Connect Claude Code

1. [Make an API key](https://userookery.com/help/api-keys/) in **Settings → API**. Give it a name like "Claude Code".
2. Right after you create it, the **Connect** section shows a command with your key and address filled in.
3. Copy the command and run it in your terminal. It looks like this:

```
claude mcp add --transport http rookery \
  https://your-rookery-address/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer rk_…"
```

4. Ask Claude something like "What's waiting in my Rookery inbox?"

## Connect another client

Point it at `/mcp` on your Rookery address, and send your key in the `Authorization: Bearer` header. The server uses Streamable HTTP.

## What the assistant can do

The tools it sees depend on what the key may do:

- **Read:** `list_conversations`, `get_conversation`, `list_mailboxes`, `list_tags`, `search_documents`
- **Work on conversations:** `add_note`, `set_status`, `tag_conversation`, `assign_conversation`
- **Draft or send replies:** `reply`, `request_documents`

## Good to know

- Your assistant joins your team as an agent, named after the key. Its notes and drafts show that name.
- With **Draft replies**, its replies wait in **Needs your yes**, just like Quill's.
- With **Send replies**, its replies go out after a 10-minute undo window.
- The same 120-requests-a-minute limit applies as for the API.
- Revoke the key in **Settings → API** to cut the assistant off at once.

> **Coming soon:** signing in without a key header, for apps that can't send one, like custom connectors in Claude on the web.