---
title: "Smartlead MCP Server"
description: "The Model Context Protocol (MCP) server provides a standardised interface that allows any compatible AI model or agent to access your Smartlead app and data in a simple and secure way."
url: https://helpcenter.smartlead.ai/en/articles/300-smartlead-mcp-server
collection: "Smartlead MCP"
updated: 2026-10-31
language: en
---

# Smartlead MCP Server

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) server provides a standardised interface that allows any compatible AI model or agent to access your Smartlead app and data in a simple and secure way.

## **How to Connect Smartlead MCP to Claude**

With the **Smartlead MCP server**, you can now access and interact with your Smartlead data directly inside **Claude**. This integration allows you to manage campaigns, retrieve insights, and perform diagnostics seamlessly - without ever leaving your chat interface!

This guide will walk you step-by-step through setting up the integration using **Server-Sent Events (SSE)**.

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## **What is MCP?**

The **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** is an open standard that lets AI models securely interact with external apps and data sources. With Smartlead MCP, Claude can now:

-   Fetch **campaign insights** in real time
    
-   Run **deliverability and health diagnostics**
    
-   Access **lead, account, and performance data**
    
-   Use Smartlead APIs securely — without manual requests
    

**_⚡ Tip: The Smartlead MCP integration works only via SSE (Server-Sent Events) for now. HTTPS transport is not supported._**

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## **Step 1. Get Your Smartlead API Key**

1.  Log in to your Smartlead Dashboard.
    
2.  Go to **Settings → API Keys**.
    
3.  Click **Generate API Key** (if you don’t already have one).
    
4.  Copy your API key - we’ll use it in the next step.
    

**_🔒 Important: Treat your API key like a password. Do not share it publicly._**

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## **Step 2. Edit Configuration In Claude**

Open Claude Desktop

Go to:

**Settings → Developer → Edit Config**

This will take you to the MCP configuration JSON file. Double click to open the file. See the screenshot below. It will be named - claude\_desktop\_config.json

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/Gth24HhMEW1osHCgLE5X7O8poCpwO3704z9pjm2kDxQguSuauhL6W5WeqmIkLL7nOjhlZCWXmMJ.png)

## **Step 3. Add Smartlead MCP Configuration**

Inside the JSON file add the following configuration:

```javascript
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "smartlead": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.smartlead.ai/sse?user_api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"
      ]
    }
  }
}

```

### **Key Notes**

-   Replace **<YOUR\_API\_KEY>** with the key from Step 1.
    
-   Ensure you **don’t delete any existing configurations** if you already have other MCP servers set up.
    
-   Make sure you have **Node.js** installed, as `npx` is required to run the remote MCP module.
    
    -   Download Node.js: https://nodejs.org
        

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## **Step 4. Enable MCP Tools in Claude**

Once your configuration is saved:

1.  Open the **Claude desktop app**.
    
2.  Click on new chat, you will see the search and tools icon
    
3.  You should see Smartlead show up there
    
4.  Toggle **Enable** Smartlead for new chats.  
      
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/GwpokbE1ST9cNfu66deqdX3AI0dt7Z295AEPayZkqOIEQhdP8Qu06actUs5rkl9lzoddky8MMCy.png)

  

## **Step 5. Authenticate & Test**

1.  Open a **new chat** in Claude.
    
2.  Type `/mcp`.
    
3.  Claude will authenticate using your API key.
    
4.  If successful, you’ll see available **Smartlead commands** you can now run, like:
    
    -   `get_campaign_status`
        
    -   `fetch_lead_data`
        
    -   `check_deliverability`
        
5.  Start interacting directly with your Smartlead account.
    

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## **Step 6. Troubleshooting**

<table data-id="0aa8e949-f768-489a-b538-8265591859ef" style="min-width: 75px;"><colgroup><col style="min-width: 25px;"><col style="min-width: 25px;"><col style="min-width: 25px;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="623e75e9-dac7-4733-88eb-53056ae98c04" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Issue</strong></p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="6a493a65-2f59-40a6-a944-a626ec705038" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Possible Cause</strong></p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="d28ca4b7-b0de-4668-b024-1ce31134e742" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Solution</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><div class="hc-code" data-lang="javascript"><div class="hc-code-head"><span class="hc-code-title">JavaScript</span><button type="button" class="hc-code-copy" data-hc-code-copy="" aria-label="Copy code"></button></div><pre class="hc-code-pre"><code class="language-javascript"><span class="hc-line">mcp-<span class="hljs-attr">remote</span>: command not found</span></code></pre></div></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><div class="hc-code" data-lang="javascript"><div class="hc-code-head"><span class="hc-code-title">JavaScript</span><button type="button" class="hc-code-copy" data-hc-code-copy="" aria-label="Copy code"></button></div><pre class="hc-code-pre"><code class="language-javascript"><span class="hc-line"><span class="hljs-title class_">Node</span>.<span class="hljs-property">js</span> / npx missing</span></code></pre></div></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="462c740a-904d-4805-9747-770ff84a94b0" style="text-align: left;">Install Node.js here</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="1f10a8aa-0911-4b0f-aa0e-9a34be746350" style="text-align: left;">Authentication fails</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="a7e291cf-e45c-4f53-b257-ddd478ca4186" style="text-align: left;">API key missing or incorrect</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="60b28357-71a8-439b-9f91-b2844e97a1a7" style="text-align: left;">Double-check your API key under Smartlead dashboard</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="c79c3ff7-d5c5-40c9-9dee-1d42434e522f" style="text-align: left;">MCP tools not appearing in Claude</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="d016d3fe-9197-4d5a-8e01-e6ed5305c954" style="text-align: left;">Integration disabled</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="33a7a1e6-5c7f-481a-b56a-97b17c9383c3" style="text-align: left;">Enable MCP tools under Claude <strong>Settings → Integrations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="6c189286-da07-4e54-a62b-715c4f42f6e2" style="text-align: left;">Requests timing out</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="0ae0fc82-712a-41d1-b5ef-41a1c960cad6" style="text-align: left;">Network restrictions</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="33c6caba-7ade-40e1-99e6-706287720ea9" style="text-align: left;">Allow outbound connections to <code>https://mcp.smartlead.ai</code></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="03e33a0a-a49f-46ee-8e31-2a1c0726f62f" style="text-align: left;">Endpoint limit errors</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="c3852281-e189-45ee-8f7b-cc26594cf3ae" style="text-align: left;">API quota exceeded</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="f0cac3ca-7728-46d2-9152-46e1050ad16c" style="text-align: left;">Check your Smartlead plan or usage dashboard</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

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## **Step 7. What's Next**

With MCP set up, you can:

-   View **real-time campaign stats**
    
-   Run **deliverability and spam diagnostics**
    
-   Query **lead and sender data**
    
-   Integrate with **advanced recipes and workflows** (coming soon)
    

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## **FAQ: Smartlead MCP + Claude Setup**

### **1\. What is Smartlead MCP?**

Smartlead MCP lets Claude interact with your Smartlead data using **Model Context Protocol**. You can fetch stats, diagnose campaigns, and access leads in real time — all without switching tabs.

### **2\. Does Smartlead MCP support HTTPS integration?**

No. For now, Smartlead MCP only supports **SSE (Server-Sent Events)**. All setup instructions in this article assume SSE transport.

### **3\. Where can I find my API key?**

Go to **Smartlead Dashboard → Settings → API Keys** and copy your API key. If you don’t have one, click **Generate API Key**.

### **4\. Can I use the same setup in Claude Web?**

Currently, MCP integrations are supported **only in Claude Desktop**. Web support will come later.

### **5\. Are my API keys secure?**

Yes. Your API keys stay **local** in your Claude config file and are used only to authenticate with **Smartlead MCP**. Never share them publicly.

### **6\. Do I need coding experience to set this up?**

No, you don’t. Just follow the steps above — everything is copy-paste friendly.

### **7\. I set everything up, but** `/mcp` **it doesn’t work. What should I do?**

Check the following:

-   Ensure you **saved** the config file.
    
-   Make sure you have **Node.js** installed.
    
-   Verify that MCP tools are enabled under Claude **Integrations**.
    

### **8\. Will there be recipes and workflows I can use with MCP?**

Yes! Soon we’ll release curated **recipes, hacks, and shortcuts** that leverage MCP to automate campaign insights, deliverability checks, and lead management directly via Claude.

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