Use Retool's MCP server

Use Retool's MCP server to manage your organization and its users or for app building.

You can connect to Retool's MCP server directly from your coding environment. Retool's MCP enables you to build apps from your chosen development environment, import React apps into Retool, and manage your organization's settings and users.

note

The MCP server provides access to Retool functionality in an external environment. This functionality is distinct from the MCP resource, which lets you connect third-party tools and services as a native integration in classic apps, workflows, and agents.

Refer to the MCP tool reference for the full list of tools.

Use cases

The following use cases are examples of what can be accomplished using the MCP server:

App building

Use the MCP server to build apps from your chosen development environment:

• Import an existing React app to Retool.
• Start or continue building an app.
• View past and current agent activity.
• Cancel a failed app build.
• Manually review function runs.
• Inspect an existing app.

Organization and user management

Use the MCP server to manage your organization settings and users:

• Write queries against resources to power data analysis.
• Investigate audit logs.
• Bulk-invite users or manage pending invites.
• Audit the users who have access to your organization.
• Disable users who no longer need access, or reset a user's two-factor authentication.
• Create permission groups and add or remove members.
• Create custom roles and assign them to users and groups.
• Check who can access an app, resource, or workflow, and grant or remove access.

Resource management

Use the MCP server to manage resources:

• List all connected resources and see their configurations.
• Create new resources.
• Identify the best resource for a given use case.
• Inspect resource environment configurations.

For a full list of available tools, refer to the MCP tools reference, or install the MCP server and run tools/list.

Connect MCP server

Cloud

You can connect Retool's MCP server to an MCP-compatible client using the following details:

• URL: https://mcp.retool.com/mcp
• Transport: HTTP
• Authentication: OAuth 2.0

Once you authenticate your MCP server with OAuth 2.0, you may have to restart your coding agent.

Common coding agents

The following examples show how to connect to the MCP server with common coding agents.

Retool Agents

To configure the MCP server as a tool for use in Retool Agents, complete the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Resources tab in Retool. Click Create new > Resource, and select MCP Server.
2. Configure the resource:
   1. Title: Retool MCP
   2. Description: An MCP server for interacting with Retool.
   3. Server URL: https://mcp.retool.com/mcp
   4. Authentication: Automatic
   5. Click Auto-configure authentication.
   6. Scroll down and click Connect with OAuth. Click Authenticate.
   7. Enter your organization URL and click Continue, or choose an organization that you are already logged into.
   8. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
3. Navigate to a new or existing agent and add a new tool.
   1. Click Add new tool.
   2. Select Connect to MCP server.
   3. From the dropdown, select the MCP server you created in the previous step.
   4. Click Save.
4. Test out your agent from the Chat tab.

Anthropic

Claude Code

To configure the MCP server for Claude Code, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   claude mcp add --transport http retool https://mcp.retool.com/mcp

2. Exit your Claude Code session, and start a new session.
3. Run /mcp, and select the retool MCP server, which requires authentication. A new browser tab opens.
4. Enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
5. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
6. Return to Claude Code. The MCP server is ready to use.

Claude

If your organization is on a Team or Enterprise Claude plan, ask an Owner or Primary owner of your organization to add Retool's MCP server as a custom connector.

If you use Claude on a Free, Pro, or Max Claude plan, use the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Customize tab in Claude.
2. Open the Connectors tab.
3. Search for Retool, and click + or Connect to Claude.
4. For the server URL, use https://mcp.retool.com/mcp and click Connect. A new browser tab opens.
5. Enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
6. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
7. Return to Claude. The MCP server is ready to use.

OpenAI

Codex

To configure the MCP server via the CLI for Codex, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   codex mcp add retool --url https://mcp.retool.com/mcp

2. In the new browser tab that opens, enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
3. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
4. Return to Codex. The MCP is ready to use.

ChatGPT

To configure the MCP server for ChatGPT, use the following steps:

1. In ChatGPT, navigate to Settings > Plugins.
2. Click Add > Add MCP server.
3. Enter the following information:
   1. Name: Retool
   2. Type: Streamable HTTP
   3. URL: https://mcp.retool.com/mcp
4. Click Save.
5. On the Plugins page, navigate to the MCPs tab. Find the MCP you added, and click Authenticate.
6. In the new browser tab that opens, enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
7. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
8. Return to ChatGPT. The MCP is ready to use.

Cursor

To configure the MCP server in Cursor, complete the following steps:

1. Open Customize > MCPs and click New MCP Server. Select whether to add a user or workspace MCP.
2. .cursor/mcp.json opens. Add your Retool MCP server:

   {
      "mcpServers": {
         "retool": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.retool.com/mcp"
         },
         ...other mcp servers
      }
   }

3. Click Authenticate.
4. In the new browser tab that opens, enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
5. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
6. Return to Cursor. The MCP is ready to use.

Google

Gemini CLI

To configure the MCP server for the Gemini CLI, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   gemini mcp add --transport http --scope user retool https://mcp.retool.com/mcp

2. Start a new Gemini CLI session.
3. Run /mcp auth retool.
4. In the new browser tab that opens, enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
5. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
6. Return to the Gemini CLI. The MCP server is ready to use.

Gemini Enterprise

Gemini Enterprise connects to Retool's MCP server as a custom MCP server data store. A Google Cloud admin with the Discovery Engine Editor role must add the connector. Refer to Google's Set up your custom MCP server data store guide for the full list of prerequisites.

To configure the MCP server for Gemini Enterprise, complete the following steps:

1. Register Gemini Enterprise as an OAuth client with Retool. From your terminal, run the following command:

   curl -X POST https://mcp.retool.com/api/oauth2/register \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{"client_name": "Gemini Enterprise", "redirect_uris": ["https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/oauth-redirect"]}'

   Copy the client_id value from the response.
2. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to Gemini Enterprise > Data stores. Click Create data store, and select Custom MCP Server.
3. Enter the following information:
   1. MCP Server URL: https://mcp.retool.com/mcp
   2. Authorization URL: https://mcp.retool.com/auth/oauth2/authorize
   3. Token URL: https://mcp.retool.com/api/oauth2/token
   4. Client ID: The client_id from step 1.
   5. Client Secret: Any placeholder value. Retool doesn't issue client secrets, and ignores this value.
   6. Scopes: mcp:read mcp:write mcp:admin. Each user can only authorize the scopes their Retool role allows. For example, only admins can authorize mcp:admin.
   7. Enable PKCE Support: Selected.
4. In a separate browser tab, sign in to your Retool organization.
5. Return to Gemini Enterprise and click Verify Auth. A popup window opens. Choose the organization that you signed into, and authorize the requested scopes.
6. Authorize the scopes, and finish creating the data store.

note

You must be signed in to Retool in the same browser before you click Verify Auth. If the popup window shows the Retool sign-in page, the connection fails. Sign in to Retool in a separate tab, then click Verify Auth again.

Kiro

To configure the MCP server for the Kiro CLI, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   kiro-cli mcp add --name "Retool" --scope global --url "https://mcp.retool.com/mcp"

2. Exit your Kiro CLI session, and start a new session.
3. Run /mcp, and select the retool MCP, which needs authentication. Click the link to redirect to the OAuth authentication.
4. Enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
5. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
6. Return to Kiro CLI. The MCP is ready to use.

VS Code

To configure the MCP server in VS Code, complete the following steps:

note

MCP support requires VS Code 1.102 or later with GitHub Copilot Chat. If MCP servers do not start, make sure the chat.mcp.access setting in VS Code is not set to none. Your organization can turn this setting off for managed installs.

1. Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root if one does not already exist.
2. Click Add Server....
3. Select HTTP.
4. Enter your MCP server URL, https://mcp.retool.com/mcp.
5. Name your MCP server.
6. In the new browser tab that opens, enter your organization URL, click Continue, and sign in. Alternatively, choose an organization you’re already signed into.
7. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
8. Authenticate, and return to VS Code. The MCP server is ready to use.

Self-hosted

You can connect Retool's MCP server to an MCP-compatible client using the following details:

• URL: https://<your-retool-instance>/mcp (e.g. https://example.retool.com/mcp)
• Transport: HTTP
• Authentication: OAuth 2.0

Once you authenticate your MCP server with OAuth 2.0, you may have to restart your coding agent.

Common coding agents

The following examples show how to connect to the MCP server with common coding agents.

Retool Agents

To configure the MCP server as a tool for use in Retool Agents, complete the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Resources tab in Retool. Click Create new > Resource, and select MCP Server.
2. Configure the resource:
   1. Title: Retool MCP
   2. Description: An MCP server for interacting with Retool.
   3. Server URL: https://example.retool.com/mcp
   4. Authentication: Automatic
   5. Click Auto-configure authentication.
   6. Scroll down and click Connect with OAuth. Click Authenticate.
   7. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
3. Navigate to a new or existing agent and add a new tool.
   1. Click Add new tool.
   2. Select Connect to MCP server.
   3. From the dropdown, select the MCP server you created in the previous step.
   4. Click Save.
4. Test out your agent from the Chat tab.

Anthropic

Claude Code

To configure the MCP server for Claude Code, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   claude mcp add --transport http retool https://example.retool.com/mcp

2. Exit your Claude Code session, and start a new session.
3. Run /mcp, and select the retool MCP server, which requires authentication. A new browser tab opens and asks you to select the desired scopes.
4. Authenticate, and return to Claude Code. The MCP server is ready to use.

Claude

If your organization is on a Team or Enterprise Claude plan, ask an Owner or Primary owner of your organization to add Retool's MCP server as a custom connector.

If you use Claude on a Free, Pro, or Max Claude plan, use the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Customize tab in Claude.
2. Open the Connectors tab.
3. Search for Retool, and click + or Connect to Claude.
4. For the server URL, use https://example.retool.com/mcp.
5. A new browser tab opens and asks you to authorize the scopes you want the MCP to use.
6. Return to Claude. The MCP server is ready to use.

OpenAI

Codex

To configure the MCP server via the CLI for Codex, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   codex mcp add retool --url https://example.retool.com/mcp

2. A new browser tab opens and asks you to select the desired scopes.
3. Authenticate, and return to Codex. The MCP is ready to use.

ChatGPT

To configure the MCP server for ChatGPT, use the following steps:

1. In ChatGPT, navigate to Settings > Plugins.
2. Click Add > Add MCP server.
3. Enter the following information:
   1. Name: Retool
   2. Type: Streamable HTTP
   3. URL: https://example.retool.com/mcp
4. Click Save.
5. On the Plugins page, navigate to the MCPs tab. Find the MCP you added, and click Authenticate. A new browser tab opens for OAuth consent.
6. Authorize the requested scopes and return to ChatGPT.

Cursor

To configure the MCP server in Cursor, complete the following steps:

1. Open Customize > MCPs and click New MCP Server. Select whether to add a user or workspace MCP.
2. .cursor/mcp.json opens. Add your Retool MCP server:

   {
      "mcpServers": {
         "retool": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://example.retool.com/mcp"
         },
         ...other mcp servers
      }
   }

3. Click Authenticate.
4. Select the scopes that you want the MCP to have access to. Click Authorize.
5. Return to Cursor. The MCP is ready to use.

Google

Gemini CLI

To configure the MCP server for the Gemini CLI, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   gemini mcp add --transport http --scope user retool https://example.retool.com/mcp

2. Start a new Gemini CLI session.
3. Run /mcp auth retool. A browser window opens and asks you to select the desired scopes.
4. Authenticate, and return to the Gemini CLI. The MCP server is ready to use.

Gemini Enterprise

Gemini Enterprise connects to Retool's MCP server as a custom MCP server data store. A Google Cloud admin with the Discovery Engine Editor role must add the connector. Refer to Google's Set up your custom MCP server data store guide for the full list of prerequisites.

To configure the MCP server for Gemini Enterprise, complete the following steps:

1. Register Gemini Enterprise as an OAuth client with Retool. From your terminal, run the following command:

   curl -X POST https://example.retool.com/api/oauth2/register \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{"client_name": "Gemini Enterprise", "redirect_uris": ["https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/oauth-redirect"]}'

   Copy the client_id value from the response.
2. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to Gemini Enterprise > Data stores. Click Create data store, and select Custom MCP Server.
3. Enter the following information:
   1. MCP Server URL: https://example.retool.com/mcp
   2. Authorization URL: https://example.retool.com/auth/oauth2/authorize
   3. Token URL: https://example.retool.com/api/oauth2/token
   4. Client ID: The client_id from step 1.
   5. Client Secret: Any placeholder value. Retool doesn't issue client secrets, and ignores this value.
   6. Scopes: mcp:read mcp:write mcp:admin. Each user can only authorize the scopes their Retool role allows. For example, only admins can authorize mcp:admin.
   7. Enable PKCE Support: Selected.
4. In a separate browser tab, sign in to your Retool organization.
5. Return to Gemini Enterprise and click Verify Auth. A popup window opens and asks you to authorize the requested scopes.
6. Authorize the scopes, and finish creating the data store.

note

You must be signed in to Retool in the same browser before you click Verify Auth. If the popup window shows the Retool sign-in page, the connection fails. Sign in to Retool in a separate tab, then click Verify Auth again.

Kiro

To configure the MCP server for the Kiro CLI, complete the following steps:

1. From your terminal, run the following command:

   kiro-cli mcp add --name "Retool" --scope global --url "https://example.retool.com/mcp"

2. Exit your Kiro CLI session, and start a new session.
3. Run /mcp, and select the retool MCP, which needs authentication. Click the link to redirect to the OAuth authentication.
4. Select the desired scopes and click Authorize.
5. Return to Kiro CLI. The MCP is ready to use.

VS Code

To configure the MCP server in VS Code, complete the following steps:

note

MCP support requires VS Code 1.102 or later with GitHub Copilot Chat. If MCP servers do not start, make sure the chat.mcp.access setting in VS Code is not set to none. Your organization can turn this setting off for managed installs.

1. Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root if one does not already exist.
2. Click Add Server....
3. Select HTTP.
4. Enter your MCP server URL, https://example.retool.com/mcp.
5. Name your MCP server.
6. A new browser tab opens and asks you to select the desired scopes.
7. Authenticate, and return to VS Code. The MCP server is ready to use.

MCP server for self-hosted instances

Retool's MCP server is available for self-hosted instances that use version 4.0.0 and later. Once you set up your first instance or upgrade your existing instance, follow the instructions in the Enable MCP server guide.

Credit usage

For app-building tasks, the MCP server engages two agentic services:

• Your local development agent decides what to build, and passes your prompt to Retool.
• Retool's app building agent works to create or update your app.

Each of these services charges separately for their portion of the work. In Retool, if you utilize Retool-managed keys, any app building consumes AI credits. If your organization is on the Enterprise plan and you bring your own key, app building does not consume AI credits. Refer to the AI credits billing and usage page for more information.

No Retool credits are consumed for admin or resource exploration tasks.