> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bland.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Claude Desktop to the Bland MCP server

> Connect the Claude Desktop app to your Bland account with the Bland plugin, request-header authentication, or a stdio bridge.

The Bland MCP server is a hosted, streamable-HTTP server. Every client needs the same two values:

* **URL:** `https://api.bland.ai/v1/mcp`
* **Header:** `Authorization: Bearer YOUR_BLAND_API_KEY`

Get your key from the [dashboard](https://app.bland.ai/dashboard/settings). Setting up a different tool? See all [MCP clients](/integrations/mcp/clients).

## Setup

Prefer the [Bland plugin](/integrations/mcp/norm), which installs into Claude Desktop and stores the key for you.

If your organization has access to Claude's [request-header authentication beta](https://claude.com/docs/connectors/custom/remote-mcp#authenticating-with-request-headers), add a custom connector with the server URL above, choose **No sign-in**, and add an **Authorization** request header with the full value `Bearer YOUR_BLAND_API_KEY`.

If **Request headers** is unavailable, use the stdio bridge below. Install Node.js 22+ with npm first, then add this entry to `claude_desktop_config.json` (**Settings → Developer → Edit Config**). Replace `org_your_key_here` with your API key:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bland": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y", "mcp-remote", "https://api.bland.ai/v1/mcp",
        "--header", "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}"
      ],
      "env": { "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer org_your_key_here" }
    }
  }
}
```

Keep the entire `Bearer ...` value in `AUTH_HEADER`. This avoids the [Windows argument-spacing issue](https://github.com/punkpeye/mcp-remote#custom-headers) documented by `mcp-remote`. Restart Claude Desktop after saving.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Tool reference" icon="wrench" href="/integrations/mcp/tools">
    Everything the MCP server can do.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Bland MCP Server" icon="circle-info" href="/integrations/mcp/overview">
    Auth, rate limits, and how the server works.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Docs for agents: [llms.txt](/llms.txt)