Client Setup Guides

Claude Code

Claude Code connects to Parallect via Streamable HTTP. There are three setup options, from simplest to most seamless.

Option 1: API Key (simplest)

Generate an API key at parallect.ai/settings/keys, then run:

claude mcp add --transport http parallect https://parallect.ai/api/mcp/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer par_live_YOUR_KEY"

Option 2: OAuth with Client ID

This opens a browser login flow so you don't need to copy an API key:

claude mcp add --transport http --client-id claude-code \
  parallect https://parallect.ai/api/mcp/mcp

Then inside Claude Code, run /mcp and select Authenticate for Parallect. Follow the browser login flow.

Option 3: Zero-Config (Dynamic Client Registration)

Claude Code can register itself automatically — no API key or client ID needed:

claude mcp add --transport http parallect https://parallect.ai/api/mcp/mcp

Then run /mcp inside Claude Code and authenticate via the browser.

Verify Connection

Once connected, try asking Claude Code to research something:

Use parallect to research "Latest advances in fusion energy" and show me the results

Cursor

With API Key

1. Open Cursor Settings
2. Navigate to MCP Servers
3. Add a new server with this configuration:

{
  "parallect": {
    "url": "https://parallect.ai/api/mcp/mcp",
    "headers": {
      "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
    }
  }
}

4. Restart Cursor
5. The Parallect tools will appear in agent mode

Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop uses mcp-remote for HTTP-based MCP servers.

With API Key

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json (typically at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "parallect": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y", "mcp-remote",
        "https://parallect.ai/api/mcp/mcp",
        "--header", "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop after editing the config.

OpenClaw

With API Key (Recommended)

Add Parallect to OpenClaw using your API key:

mcporter add parallect \
  --url https://parallect.ai/api/mcp/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Once connected, you can use all Parallect tools:

mcporter call parallect research --query "Latest advances in fusion energy"
mcporter call parallect research_status --jobId job_xyz789
mcporter call parallect get_results --jobId job_xyz789

Get your API key at parallect.ai/settings/keys.

Troubleshooting

"Unauthorized" Error

• Check that your API key is valid and hasn't been revoked in the dashboard
• Ensure the Authorization header uses Bearer prefix

"Insufficient Balance" Error

• Check your balance with the balance tool
• Add credits via the dashboard or add a payment method

Connection Timeout

• Research jobs run asynchronously -- use research_status to poll
• Don't wait for research to complete in a single tool call

Tools Not Appearing

• Restart your MCP client after configuration changes
• Check that the URL ends with /api/mcp/mcp
• For Claude Desktop, ensure mcp-remote is installed (npx -y mcp-remote)