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

# Connect MCP

> Let Cursor, Claude Code, or another assistant search your inbox, create drafts, and manage rules.

Inbox Zero exposes a remote MCP server so an assistant in Cursor, Claude Code, or another MCP client can work with your linked Gmail and Outlook accounts.

The assistant can search and read mail, create mailbox drafts, manage automation rules, and read email statistics. It cannot send email. Drafts stay in your mailbox until you send them.

This is different from [Integrations](/essentials/context-integrations), which let Inbox Zero call other products during assistant rules.

## Turn on MCP for your account

1. Open Settings and scroll to **Developer → API Access**.
2. Turn on **MCP**.
3. Connect your assistant with the MCP URL below. The first connection asks you to allow access.

If MCP is still off when the assistant connects, the consent screen can turn it on for you after you sign in with Google or Microsoft. Email-code sign-in cannot authorize MCP clients.

## Add the server

Use this Streamable HTTP URL:

```text theme={null}
https://www.getinboxzero.com/mcp
```

Self-hosted deployments use `https://your-inbox-zero-host/mcp` after setting `MCP_SERVER_ENABLED=true`, `NEXT_PUBLIC_EXTERNAL_API_ENABLED=true`, and `API_KEY_SALT`. See the [MCP API reference](/api-reference/mcp).

### Cursor

Add this to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` or the project `.cursor/mcp.json`:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "inbox-zero": {
      "url": "https://www.getinboxzero.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

Cursor then signs you in with OAuth. This repository also includes a local Cursor plugin under `plugins/inbox-zero-mcp`.

### Claude Code

```bash theme={null}
claude mcp add --transport http inbox-zero https://www.getinboxzero.com/mcp
```

## What the assistant can do

| Permission | Tools                                                           |
| ---------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Read       | List inboxes, search mail, read threads, list rules, read stats |
| Write      | Create a draft (does not send), create/update/delete rules      |

Ask it to search recent mail, summarize a thread, draft a reply, or update an automation rule. Sending stays in Inbox Zero or your mailbox.

## Disconnect an app

1. Open **Settings → Developer → API Access**.
2. Choose **MCP apps**.
3. Disconnect the application you no longer trust.

That revokes only that app. Other connected apps keep working. Turn off **MCP** to disconnect every app at once. Refresh tokens survive logging out of Inbox Zero in the browser; disconnecting or turning MCP off is what revokes them.