# Connect Claude Desktop to aicharged.io

> Claude Desktop: the same custom connector as on the web, or claude_desktop_config.json through the aicharged CLI (stdio).

## At a glance

| Kind | Sign-in | Platforms | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI assistants | API key (Bearer), OAuth sign-in, Local bridge (stdio) | macOS, Windows | works today | 2026-10-22 |

- MCP: `https://aicharged.io/api/v1/mcp`
- Docs: https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166

## Recipe

1. Open Customize → Connectors.
2. Click + Add → Add custom connector.
3. Name: aicharged · Remote MCP server URL: https://aicharged.io/api/v1/mcp
4. Authentication: No sign in · Request headers: Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>
5. Save, then enable aicharged in a chat from the + menu.
6. Alternative without a connector: write claude_desktop_config.json (below) and restart Claude Desktop.

Remote MCP server URL:

```text
https://aicharged.io/api/v1/mcp
```

Request header:

```text
Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>
```

claude_desktop_config.json through the aicharged CLI (stdio) (`claude_desktop_config.json`) — needs the aicharged CLI:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aicharged": {
      "command": "aicharged",
      "args": [
        "mcp",
        "serve"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/, Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\ (Settings → Developer → Edit Config).

claude_desktop_config.json through the mcp-remote bridge (`claude_desktop_config.json`):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aicharged": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://aicharged.io/api/v1/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}",
        "--transport",
        "http-only"
      ],
      "env": {
        "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer <API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

No space after the colon in Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER} — the value belongs in env.

[Client documentation](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166)

## Authentication

- Send `Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>` with every request. Create a key at https://aicharged.io/admin/account/api-keys.
- OAuth 2.1 (PKCE S256) is available for clients that cannot send a static key (ChatGPT).
- Without a key the endpoint answers 401 with a WWW-Authenticate header that points to https://aicharged.io/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource.

All 51 clients: https://aicharged.io/connect.md

HTML version: https://aicharged.io/connect/claude-desktop