Skip to main content
Use this guide when you want Claude to read from your Paperzilla account through Paperzilla MCP. This setup applies to Claude, Claude Desktop, and Cowork. If you are setting up another MCP client, start with Use Paperzilla with MCP. That page covers the generic endpoint and both supported auth patterns.

​
Before you start

Your Claude connector URL contains your Paperzilla MCP key. Treat the full URL as a secret.

​
Step 1: copy your Paperzilla MCP key

  1. Open your dashboard.
  2. Click MCP API key.
  3. Generate or copy your key.
  4. Store it somewhere private while you set up Claude.
If you do not see that button yet, use the key-management details in the MCP endpoint appendix.

​
Step 2: build the Claude connector URL

Paperzilla accepts both Authorization: Bearer <key> and ?key=<key>. In Claude’s custom connector flow, use this URL form: 
https://paperzilla.ai/api/mcp/?key=pzmcp_...
Replace pzmcp_... with your real key. This URL form fits Claude’s custom connector flow because you provide a URL directly in Claude.

​
Step 3: add Paperzilla in Claude

  1. Open Claude.
  2. Go to Settings > Connectors.
  3. Click Add custom connector.
  4. Enter Paperzilla as the name.
  5. Paste your connector URL.
  6. Save the connector.
Claude Add custom connector dialog showing Paperzilla and a sanitized Paperzilla MCP URL.
For Claude Desktop, add remote MCP servers through Settings > Connectors. Anthropic says Claude Desktop does not use remote servers that you place directly in claude_desktop_config.json. After you save the connector, Claude should show the six Paperzilla tools. Claude asks for approval by default. We recommend switching the connector to Always allow, as shown here, so Claude can use the Paperzilla tools without prompting on each call.
Claude connector settings showing the six Paperzilla tools and the tool permission controls.

​
Step 4: use Paperzilla in Claude

Enable the connector for the conversation or workflow where you want Claude to use your Paperzilla data. After that, Claude can call the Paperzilla tools directly. You can ask things like:
  • “What Paperzilla projects do I have?”
  • “Show must-read papers from my Autonomous Agents project from this week.”
  • “Compare the two newest must-read papers in my evaluation project.”
  • “Pull markdown for the TRAJEVAL paper and explain the main contribution.”
  • “Draft a weekly summary of new must-read papers across all my projects.”

​
What Claude can access

ToolWhat it returns
projects_listYour projects
projects_getOne project
feed_getFeed items with filters such as must_read, since, limit, and offset
feed_atom_urlThe Atom feed URL for one project
paper_getPaper metadata and status
paper_markdownPaper markdown, or a queued/unavailable status
Claude-compatible MCP clients should use these underscore tool names. Paperzilla still accepts legacy dotted names like paper.get for direct tools/call compatibility. If you want the full protocol and input shapes, see MCP endpoint (developer appendix).

​
Troubleshooting

​
Claude cannot find the connector

Check that you added Paperzilla under Settings > Connectors in Claude, not in a local desktop config file.

​
Claude reports an auth error or Paperzilla returns 401 Unauthorized

The key in the connector URL is missing, invalid, revoked, or rotated. Generate a new key in the dashboard and update the connector URL in Claude.

​
Claude returns no papers

Try a broader request first. For example, ask for papers from “this month” instead of “today”. Also confirm that the project already has matching papers in Paperzilla.

​
You want a non-Claude MCP client

Use Use Paperzilla with MCP. Paperzilla supports both header auth and query-string auth, so use the one your client can send.

​
Security

  • Treat the full connector URL like a password.
  • Rotate the MCP key immediately if the URL is exposed.
  • Remove the connector in Claude if you no longer want Claude to access Paperzilla.