---
title: Connect Claude
description: Add UptimeTwin to Claude Desktop so you can manage monitors in a conversation.
category: integrations
updated: 2026-09-17
tags: [claude, claude-desktop, mcp, connector, setup]
---

Connect UptimeTwin to Claude and you can manage your monitors just by chatting — "is anything down?", "add a check for our new site", "pause staging while we deploy." This page sets up **Claude Desktop**. You'll need an API token, on any plan (Free includes 300 connector requests in your first 14 days).

![The API Tokens page, listing tokens by name — one called Claude connector — showing only a short prefix of each token along with when it was created and last used](/img/docs/app-api-tokens.png)
*Give the token a name you'll recognise later. The full token is shown once, when
you create it; after that only the prefix, so keep your copy somewhere safe.*

## Before you start

- Create an API token. In the UptimeTwin dashboard's left sidebar, open **Account** and select **API Tokens** — [here's how](/docs/integrations/api-tokens). Pick **Read & write** if you want Claude to make changes, or **Read only** to keep it look-but-don't-touch.
- Install [Node.js](https://nodejs.org) if you don't have it. Claude Desktop uses a small helper (`mcp-remote`) to reach a hosted connector, and that helper runs on Node.

## Add the connector

1. Open Claude Desktop's own settings and go to **Developer → Edit Config**. On macOS, **Settings** is in the **Claude** menu in the menu bar. On Windows, it's in the menu at the top left of the Claude window (**File → Settings**).
2. **Edit Config** creates `claude_desktop_config.json` if it doesn't exist yet and takes you to it. Open the file in a text editor such as Notepad or TextEdit. It's normally at:
   - **Windows:** `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
   - **macOS:** `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
3. Look for a section called `mcpServers`. **A new Claude Desktop install usually doesn't have one:** the file may be empty, contain only `{}`, or contain only Claude Desktop's own settings. Claude Desktop only loads connectors listed under `mcpServers`, so add it to match what you find:
   - **The file is empty or contains only `{}`:** replace everything in it with the block below.
   - **The file has other settings but no `mcpServers`:** keep what's there. Put a comma after the last existing setting, then paste everything from `"mcpServers"` down to its matching closing brace from the block below, just before the file's last `}`.
   - **The file already has `mcpServers`:** add only the `"uptimetwin": { ... }` entry inside it, with a comma between it and any entry already there.

   Paste your token where shown:

   ```json
   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "uptimetwin": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": [
           "-y",
           "mcp-remote",
           "https://api.uptimetwin.com/api/mcp",
           "--header",
           "Authorization:${UW_TOKEN}"
         ],
         "env": {
           "UW_TOKEN": "Bearer uwk_live_your_token_here"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   ```

   Keep `Bearer ` in front of your token. (The token goes in `env` rather than directly in the header because Claude Desktop splits the header on spaces otherwise.)
4. Save the file. It has to be valid JSON: one missing comma or brace and Claude Desktop won't load any connector from it.
5. Fully quit Claude Desktop, then reopen it. Closing the window isn't enough.
6. In a new chat, select the button at the bottom left of the message box (**Add files, connectors, and more**) and open **Connectors**. "uptimetwin" should be listed. Ask "list my monitors" to confirm it's working.

## If uptimetwin doesn't appear

- **Check the file first.** `mcpServers` must be spelled exactly like that, capital S included, and must sit at the top level of the file, not inside another setting. A code editor such as VS Code underlines a missing comma or brace. Don't paste the file into an online JSON checker: it contains your token.
- **Check Node.js.** Run `node --version` in a terminal. If the command isn't found, install Node.js and restart Claude Desktop.
- **Read the log.** Claude Desktop writes connector logs to `%APPDATA%\Claude\logs` on Windows and `~/Library/Logs/Claude` on macOS. `mcp-server-uptimetwin.log` shows what the helper reported.
- **A `401` in the log** means the token was rejected: see [If it won't connect](/docs/integrations/connect-other-clients#if-it-wont-connect) for what to check and how to test the token from a terminal.

## Try it

Once connected, ask Claude things like:

- "Which of my monitors are down right now?"
- "Add an HTTP monitor for https://acme.com, checked every minute."
- "What incidents happened this week?"
- "Pause the staging monitor."

Claude will only ever act on your own account, and it can't delete monitors — see [what the connector can do](/docs/integrations/mcp-tools-reference).

## A note on one-click connectors

Claude's built-in "add a custom connector" uses a one-click sign-in that we're still finishing. Until it's ready, use the setup above — it gives you the same connector today.

## Get started
- [What the connector can do](/docs/integrations/mcp-tools-reference)
- [Connect Cursor and other clients](/docs/integrations/connect-other-clients)

## Related
- [API tokens](/docs/integrations/api-tokens)
- [Keeping your tokens safe](/docs/integrations/mcp-security)