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

# Connect Erlin

> Connect Erlin to Claude so you can ask about your AI visibility in plain language.

Connecting Erlin to Claude takes about a minute. Once connected, you can ask Claude about your visibility, competitors, and analytics directly in conversation.

<Frame caption="Connecting Erlin to Claude Desktop">
  <video controls playsInline src="https://erlinassets.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/erlin-docs/erlin_connector-claude.webm" />
</Frame>

## What you need

* The [Claude Desktop app](https://claude.ai/download)
* An Erlin account (free or paid)

Nothing else. No coding, no terminal, no config files for the recommended method.

## Connect via Claude Desktop (recommended)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your profile">
    In Claude Desktop, click your profile icon in the bottom-left corner.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Settings">
    Click **Settings** from the menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Connectors">
    In Settings, find and click **Connectors**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add custom connector">
    Click **Add custom connector** and paste this URL:

    ```
    https://mcp.erlin.ai/mcp
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect and authorize">
    Click **Connect**. Your browser opens to the Erlin sign-in page. Sign in with your Erlin account and click **Approve**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Done">
    Erlin appears in your connectors list. From now on, Claude can access your brand data whenever you ask.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connect with Claude Code

If you use Claude Code in the terminal, add Erlin with one command. You need an API key from **Settings > Accounts > MCP** tab in Erlin.

```bash theme={null}
claude mcp add --transport http erlin-ai https://mcp.erlin.ai/mcp \
  --header "X-API-Key: ek_live_your_key_here"
```

Replace `ek_live_your_key_here` with your actual key.

## Connect with a config file

For manual setup, edit your Claude Desktop config file directly. You need an API key from **Settings > Accounts > MCP** tab in Erlin.

**macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
**Windows**: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`

Add this to the file:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "erlin-ai": {
      "url": "https://mcp.erlin.ai/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "X-API-Key": "<YOUR_ERLIN_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

## Verifying the connection

After connecting, ask Claude something like "What websites do I have?" or "Show me my visibility score." If Erlin responds with your data, the connection is active.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                                                  | Fix                                                                                                                   |
| -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "Server disconnected"                                    | Quit Claude Desktop completely (Cmd+Q on Mac, Alt+F4 on Windows) and reopen it                                        |
| "Session expired" or authentication errors               | Go to Settings > Connectors in Claude Desktop, find Erlin, and click Reconnect. Sign in again when the browser opens. |
| Sign-in page does not load                               | Check that you can access app.erlin.ai in your browser first. Clear browser cookies and try reconnecting.             |
| Tools do not appear in Claude                            | Verify the connector URL is correct in Settings > Connectors. Restart Claude Desktop.                                 |
| "Invalid or expired API key" (Claude Code / config file) | Generate a new key at **Settings > Accounts > MCP** tab in Erlin                                                      |

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Introduction" icon="book-open" href="/mcp/introduction">
    What the Erlin MCP server does and what you can ask.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Credits and limits" icon="credit-card" href="/mcp/credits-and-limits">
    How credits work when using Erlin through Claude.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>