How to Add Connectors to Claude (Chat, Desktop & Cowork)
Claude Connectors add external tools to a Claude conversation through an MCP server URL. ToolRouter adds managed specialist actions such as structured search, image generation, SEO analysis, and extraction alongside Claude's built-in capabilities.
This guide walks through exactly how to do it in Claude chat (claude.ai), Claude Desktop, and Cowork. If you want to know which tools are worth adding first, see our roundup of the best MCP tools for Claude.
What Are Claude Connectors?
Claude Connectors are links to external tool servers that Claude can call during your conversation. When you add one, Claude can discover the tools that server exposes, subject to the client, account, and permission settings in use.
The technology behind this is called the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard created by Anthropic that lets AI assistants connect to external capabilities through a single, consistent interface. You can read a plain-English explanation of what MCP is in our post What is MCP?
The short version: one connector URL gives Claude a whole new set of abilities. Claude figures out when to use them based on what you ask — you never have to manually select a tool or run any commands.
Where Claude Connectors Work
Connectors are supported across the main ways people use Claude:
Claude chat (claude.ai) — the web browser version of Claude. Works on any device with a browser. No app needed.
Claude Desktop — the Mac and Windows app available at claude.ai/download. Same connector support as the web version.
Cowork — the agentic mode inside Claude Desktop where Claude can run multi-step tasks. Remote MCP connectors are supported in Cowork, subject to your plan and organization settings, and can be enabled for the task where you need them.
Claude Code — the developer CLI tool. This uses connectors differently and involves the terminal. If you are a developer looking to set up MCP in Claude Code, that setup is covered separately in our Claude MCP CLI guide.
This post focuses entirely on the no-code method: adding connectors through the Claude settings UI.
How to Add ToolRouter to Claude
ToolRouter gives Claude access to its current tool catalog through a single connector URL. Here is how to add it.
Steps for an individual Claude account
- Open Claude at claude.ai (or open the Claude Desktop app)
- Open Customize in the left sidebar
- Select Connectors
- Click +, then Add custom connector
- Enter the name:
ToolRouter - Enter the URL:
https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp - Click Add
That is it. Claude can now discover ToolRouter tools for web search, image generation, SEO analysis, data extraction, and more.
If you prefer a one-click option, you can connect directly at toolrouter.com/connect — it handles the setup automatically.
What happens after you save
Claude will confirm whether the connector is active. In supported conversations, Claude can then choose an exposed tool when it is relevant, or you can ask it to use a named tool explicitly.
You do not need to mention tools by name or give any special instructions. Just ask naturally.
Give your AI superpowers — connect once and access every tool.
Get started for free→What You Can Do After Connecting
Once ToolRouter is connected, here are real prompts you can type directly into Claude:
- "Search the web for the latest news on [topic]" — Claude finds current articles and summarizes them with sources
- "Generate an image of [description]" — Claude creates a full image from your description
- "Audit the SEO on [website URL]" — Claude analyzes title tags, meta descriptions, page speed, and other ranking factors
- "Extract the data from this webpage: [URL]" — Claude pulls structured data from any public page
- "Research [topic] across 10 sources and give me a summary" — Claude runs a deep research sweep and compiles a structured report
These all work in plain conversational language. You are not running commands — you are just talking to Claude the same way you always do, and Claude now has the tools to act on what you ask.
Connectors vs No Connectors
Here is what changes when you add a connector like ToolRouter:
| What you want to do | Claude built-ins | With ToolRouter connected |
|---|---|---|
| Search current information | Claude offers native web search in supported modes | Use specialist search and research tools with structured outputs |
| Generate an image | Claude can create some code-based visuals | Use raster image models, editing controls, and downloadable assets |
| Audit a website's SEO | Claude can reason about content you provide | Run a live, repeatable technical audit against a URL |
| Extract data from webpages | Claude may read individual web sources | Request structured extraction or a multi-page crawl |
| Research a topic in depth | Claude provides native research capabilities in supported products | Choose specialist sources and output schemas for a repeatable workflow |
| Get product or company data | Claude can browse current public information | Use structured lookup or enrichment tools and review their coverage limits |
The practical difference is control: a connector exposes a defined set of external actions, while the server's descriptions, authentication, permissions, and outputs determine how useful and safe those actions are.
Managing Your Connectors
To see what is connected: Open Customize → Connectors. Your configured connectors are listed there.
To remove a connector: Click the connector in the list, then click the remove or delete option. Claude will no longer have access to that server's tools.
To add more connectors: Repeat the process under Customize → Connectors. Plan and organization limits apply; Free users are limited to one custom connector. Use the conversation's + → Connectors menu to enable or disable configured connectors for that conversation.
You can add multiple connectors. Keep only the ones you trust and use so tool choice, permissions, and billing remain understandable.
Using Connectors in Cowork Mode
Cowork is Claude's agentic mode inside Claude Desktop. In Cowork, Claude can work through multi-step tasks on its own — planning, using tools, checking results, and iterating — without you needing to stay in the conversation.
In Cowork, configured connectors can be enabled for a task, subject to your plan and organization settings. This lets Claude combine actions such as research, asset generation, and website analysis in one workflow.
In Cowork, connectors can participate in multi-step tasks. Review the requested actions and results, especially when a tool can write data, spend credits, or contact an external service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Claude Connectors free to use?
Adding a connector to Claude costs nothing. The connector setup itself is just entering a URL into Claude's settings — no payment required at that step. Whether individual tools within a connector cost anything depends on the connector provider. ToolRouter uses a credit system for tools that call external APIs, but many tools run without any charges at all.
What is the difference between a connector and a plugin?
Connectors are the current standard. They use the MCP protocol, which is an open specification supported by Anthropic and built into Claude natively. Plugins were an earlier, more limited concept used by other AI assistants — they required more custom integration and were often platform-specific. Connectors via MCP are more flexible, more widely supported, and work across Claude chat, Desktop, and Cowork.
Can I add multiple connectors?
You can configure multiple connectors when your plan and organization policy allow it. Free users are limited to one custom connector. Configured connectors are not necessarily active everywhere: use the **+ → Connectors** menu in a conversation to control which ones Claude can use.
What happens when I ask Claude to do something that needs a tool?
Claude may select a relevant tool from the connectors active in that conversation and incorporate its result into the response. Tool selection is model- and client-dependent, so name the tool when it is required. If no suitable tool is available, ask Claude to identify that limitation instead of relying on an unsupported answer.
Is it safe to add connectors to Claude?
Claude Connectors connect your session to external servers. Add only servers you trust, review requested permissions, and use least-privilege credentials. MCP provides a defined interface, but it does not guarantee that every server, tool description, or downstream provider is safe. Review sensitive inputs and confirm consequential actions before approving them. --- The fastest way to get started is to add ToolRouter now at [toolrouter.com/connect](/connect). One URL gives Claude access to the current catalog.
