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This guide walks you through connecting your AI tool to Profound using our hosted Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. 
https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp
If your client works better with a local MCP process, use the profound-mcp package from Hosting a Local MCP Server.

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Claude Code

1
Run this command in your terminal:
claude mcp add --transport http profound https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp
2
Use /mcp in Claude Code to confirm the server is installed and complete any authentication flow if prompted.
  • --scope local installs the server only for the current project
  • --scope project shares the configuration with your team in the project
  • --scope user installs the server across your projects
For more details, see Claude Code MCP Installation Scopes.

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Claude Desktop

1
Open Settings -> Connectors in Claude Desktop.
2
Click Add Custom Connector and enter the server URL:
https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp
3
Save the connector and complete any authentication flow if prompted.
Remote MCP servers in Claude Desktop are configured through Settings -> Connectors, not through claude_desktop_config.json.

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Cursor

1
Open Cursor Settings -> Tools & MCPs -> New MCP Server.
2
Add the following configuration:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "profound": {
      "url": "https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
3
Save changes to the config.
4
Open Cursor Settings -> Tools & MCPs -> New MCP Server.
5
Look for the profound MCP server entry, click the Connect button, and complete any authentication flow if prompted.

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OpenCode

Add Profound MCP to your OpenCode config: 
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "profound": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp",
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
If OpenCode prompts for authentication, run opencode mcp auth profound.

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VS Code

1
Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your workspace:
{
  "servers": {
    "profound": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
2
Open the Command Palette and run MCP: List Servers.
3
Start the Profound server and complete any authentication flow if prompted.

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Windsurf

1
Open Windsurf Settings and search for MCP.
2
Open the raw mcp_config.json file and add the following configuration:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "profound": {
      "serverUrl": "https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
3
Save the configuration and restart Windsurf.

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Other Tools

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JSON Configuration Format

Most MCP clients accept a JSON configuration. Use the format that matches your tool: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "profound": {
      "url": "https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Use the local profound-mcp package if your tool prefers a local MCP server.

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Troubleshooting

Some MCP clients work better with a local stdio server. If that is the case, run the local profound-mcp package instead. See Hosting a Local MCP Server.
If your client prompts for authentication and the connection fails, try restarting the client and reconnecting. If your client offers a disconnect option for MCP servers, disconnect the existing connection and try again.

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FAQ

Use https://mcp.tryprofound.com/mcp. That is the correct hosted Profound MCP endpoint for the remote setup documented here.
Run the local profound-mcp package instead. See Hosting a Local MCP Server.
The hosted Profound MCP server is the recommended default and requires less setup. The local MCP server with the profound-mcp package is better when you want to run the MCP server yourself or your client works best with a local process. Functionally, they offer the same capabilities.