Connect to Claude
How to connect Symbol to Claude Desktop, Claude.ai, or Claude Code.
Symbol works with Claude Desktop (the app), Claude.ai (the website), and Claude Code (the CLI). Choose the one you use.
Claude Desktop
Claude Desktop supports remote MCP servers via its settings UI. No API key or config file editing required — sign-in is handled automatically via OAuth the first time you connect.
Open Claude Desktop settings
Click the Claude menu (Mac) or the hamburger menu (Windows) and select Settings. Go to the Integrations tab.
Add Symbol as a custom connector
Click Add custom connector and enter:
- Name: Symbol
- URL:
https://mcp.symbol.chat/mcp
Save the connector.
Authorize Symbol
Claude Desktop will open a Symbol sign-in page. Sign in and approve the connection. You only need to do this once.
Verify the connection
Ask Claude: "List my Symbol types"
If it responds with your types (or says you have none yet), you're connected.
Allow Symbol tools without asking
By default, Claude asks for your approval each time it uses a Symbol tool. You can change this so some or all tools run automatically.
Open tool permissions
Navigate to Customize > Connectors and select Symbol.
Choose which tools to allow
Permissions are grouped by category (e.g., read-only tools, write/delete tools). For each category or individual tool, select one of:
- Always allow — runs without asking
- Needs approval — asks before each use (the default)
- Blocked — completely disabled
To allow everything, set each category to Always allow.
For more details on managing connector permissions, see the official Claude documentation.
Working with local files and encrypted capsules
The connector above runs on Symbol's servers, so it cannot reach files on your computer and it only ever sees ciphertext for encrypted capsules.
Symbol Bridge is a free companion extension that adds both: attaching local files to capsules, and decrypting encrypted capsules on your own machine. Install it alongside this connector — you keep both connected.
Claude Desktop and Claude Code keep their own settings, so add Bridge to each one you use. It's a double-click for Desktop and a single command for Code, and your sign-in is shared between them.
Troubleshooting
Claude says it doesn't know about Symbol
Check that the connector is listed and enabled in Claude Desktop settings under Connectors. If it's there but Claude doesn't respond, try removing and re-adding it.
I'm connected but my capsules aren't showing up
Try asking Claude: "What Symbol tools do you have available?" This confirms the connection is working. If tools are listed but capsules are empty, you may not have created any yet. Create your first capsule.
Claude Code: "Incompatible auth server" error
This is rare. Try running the command with a fixed callback port:
claude mcp add --transport http --callback-port 8080 symbol https://mcp.symbol.chat/mcp