# Configure groundcover's MCP Server

Set up your agent to talk to groundcover’s MCP server. Use OAuth for a quick login, or an API key for service accounts.

**The MCP server supports two methods:**

* [**OAuth**](#oauth-recommended) (Recommended for IDEs)
* [**API Key**](#api-key)

## OAuth (recommended)

**OAuth is the default** if your agent supports it.

To get started, add the config below to your MCP client.\
Once you run it, your browser will open and prompt you to log in with your groundcover credentials.

{% hint style="info" %}
🧘 **Pro tip**: You can copy a ready-to-go command from the UI.\
Go to the sidebar → Click your profile picture → **"Connect to our MCP"**

*The tenant's UUID and your time zone will be auto-filled.*
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://2771001740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUHgqKYgCiRKdOpWQdi52%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4a4e7a93d0fd9d3aded5d16d4392b540bfc8e6f7%2FConnect%20to%20our%20MCP.png?alt=media" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
Please make sure to have [`node`](https://nodejs.org/en/download) installed (to use `npx`)
{% endhint %}

**Configuration Example**

**Cursor**

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "groundcover": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote@0.1.8",
        "https://mcp.groundcover.com/api/mcp",
        "54278",
        "--header",
        "X-Timezone:<IANA_TIMEZONE>",
        "--header",
        "X-Tenant-Uuid:<TENANT_UUID>"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

**Claude Code**

```
claude mcp add groundcover npx -- -y mcp-remote@0.1.8 https://mcp.groundcover.com/api/mcp 54278 --header X-Timezone:<IANA_TIMEZONE> --header X-Tenant-UUID:<TENANT_UUID>
```

## API Key

If your agent doesn’t support OAuth, or if you want to connect a service account, this is the way to go.

#### Prerequisites

1. **Service‑account API key** – create one or use an existing API Key. Learn more at [groundcover API keys](https://docs.groundcover.com/use-groundcover/api-keys).
2. **Your local time zone** (IANA format, for example `America/New_York` or `Asia/Jerusalem`). See how to [find it below](#how-to-find-your-time-zone).

#### Configuration Example

**Parameters**

* `AUTH_HEADER` – your groundcover API key.
* `TIMEZONE` – your time zone in IANA format.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "groundcover": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.groundcover.com/api/mcp",
        "--header", "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}",
        "--header", "X-Timezone:${TIMEZONE}"
      ],
      "env": {
        "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer <your_token>",
        "TIMEZONE": "<your_timezone>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## **Have a Multi‑backend setup?**

If you're using a **multi-backend setup** (OAuth or API Key), just add the following header to the `args` list:

```
"--header", "X-Backend-Id:<BACKEND_ID>"
```

First, grab your **backend ID** (it’s basically the name):

1. Open **Data Explorer** in groundcover.
2. Click the **Backend picker** (top‑right) and copy the backend’s name.

## **How to find your time zone**

| OS                 | command                         |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------- |
| macOS              | `sudo systemsetup -gettimezone` |
| Linux              | `timedatectl grep "Time zone"`  |
| Windows PowerShell | `Get-TimeZone`                  |

## **Client‑specific Guides**

Depending on your client, you can usually set up the MCP server through the UI - or just ask the client to add it for you. Here are quick links for common tools:

* [Instructions for Claude Desktop](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/quickstart/user#2-add-the-filesystem-mcp-server)
* [Instructions for Claude Web](https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/11175166-about-custom-integrations-using-remote-mcp)
* [Instructions for Cursor](https://docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol#configuring-mcp-servers)
* [Instructions for Windsurf](https://docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/mcp)
* [Instructions for VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers#_add-an-mcp-server-to-your-workspace)