# Claude Desktop and Claude.ai

> Add Grovs to Claude Desktop so you can manage links and pull analytics from a chat.

Source: https://docs.grovs.io/docs/ai/mcp/claude-desktop

Add the Grovs MCP server to [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/download) and Claude can manage your deep links, pull analytics, and change project settings from inside any conversation.

## Prerequisites

- Claude Desktop installed ([download here](https://claude.ai/download))
- A Grovs account with at least one project

> **Note:** Claude Desktop does not support remote MCP servers directly in `claude_desktop_config.json`. Use the **Connectors** UI instead — it's the recommended path. If you're on an older version of Claude Desktop or prefer a config file, see the [fallback](#fallback-config-file-with-mcp-remote) below.

The same steps work in [Claude.ai](https://claude.ai) on the web: custom connectors are added under **Settings → Connectors**.

## Setup (Connectors UI)

### 1. Open the Connectors settings

In Claude Desktop, open **Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector**.

### 2. Enter the Grovs server URL

Fill in the form:

- **Name:** `Grovs`
- **Remote MCP server URL:** `https://mcp.grovs.io/mcp`

Click **Add**.

### 3. Connect and authorize

After adding the connector, Grovs will appear in your Connectors list with a **Not connected** status. Click the Grovs entry, then click **Connect**.

A browser window opens to start the OAuth flow:

1. Log in to your Grovs account if prompted
2. Review the permissions and click **Authorize**
3. The browser confirms the connection. You can close it and return to Claude Desktop.

The connector status should now show as **Connected**.

### 4. Start using Grovs

You're connected. Try asking Claude:

- _"Show me my Grovs projects"_
- _"Create a deep link for our summer campaign"_
- _"What are the top performing links this week?"_

> **Note:** Self-hosting Grovs? Use your own MCP server's URL; see [Self-hosted MCP](https://docs.grovs.io/docs/ai/mcp/self-hosted).

## Fallback: config file with mcp-remote

If the Connectors UI isn't available in your Claude Desktop build, you can use [`mcp-remote`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/mcp-remote) as a local stdio bridge to the remote server.

Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config** and add:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "grovs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-remote", "https://mcp.grovs.io/mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

Save and restart Claude Desktop. The first run downloads `mcp-remote` via `npx` and opens a browser for OAuth. Requires Node.js installed locally.

## Managing the Connection

Open **Settings → Connectors**, click **Grovs**, and choose **Disconnect**.

You can also revoke access from the Grovs dashboard — see [Revoking access](https://docs.grovs.io/docs/ai/mcp/introduction#revoking-access).

## Troubleshooting

### Claude doesn't show Grovs tools

- Make sure the connector is enabled in **Settings → Connectors**
- Restart Claude Desktop after adding the connector
- Verify the URL is exactly `https://mcp.grovs.io/mcp`

### Authorization window doesn't open

- Check your browser's popup blocker settings
- Try the [`mcp-remote` fallback](#fallback-config-file-with-mcp-remote) if the Connectors UI is misbehaving

### "Token expired" errors

Tokens refresh automatically. If you see persistent auth errors, revoke access from **Account Settings → Connected Apps** in the Grovs dashboard and reconnect from Claude Desktop.