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Configure the Cortex MCP server

Connect ChatGPT, Claude, or another MCP client to Cortex. Use this guide when you set up the connection yourself.

The integration uses the hosted Cortex MCP server. You do not need to install a server on your computer.

An MCP integration provides Cortex tools but does not install the SessionStart context included with a Cortex agent plugin. If you use a supported coding agent, follow Agent plugins instead.

Open guided MCP setup to follow these instructions one step at a time. For the preferred ChatGPT store installation, use Connect ChatGPT. Grok uses a different, secret-free PKCE flow: follow Connect Grok.

Before you start

You need an Account and a Cloud Project that you can manage. If you do not have one, create a Cloud Project in the Cloud Console at platform.socra.com.

Your client must support remote HTTP MCP and follow the resource_metadata URL in Cortex's 401 OAuth challenge. Test the connection in your host. Use the CLI if the host cannot connect.

The hosted MCP surface includes tools that can write and delete. Review the Cortex security model and your client's approval policy before you connect. Review the discovered tools before you enable them in a conversation.

Set up the integration

Enable Cortex and configure OAuth on your Cloud Project. Then connect your MCP client.

Enable Cortex

Cloud Console

In the Cloud Console, open Enabled services. Select Enable service, then enable Cortex for the Cloud Project.

Configure OAuth

Configure the information that Socra shows when a user authorizes the integration.

Cloud Console

In the Cloud Console, open OAuth overview. Select Set up OAuth. Use Cortex as the application name. Add any policy information that users should see during authorization.

Configure your MCP client

Select the client that you want to connect to the Cortex MCP server.

Claude

Register an OAuth client

In the Cloud Console, open OAuth clients. Register a Web client named Cortex for Claude.

Add this redirect URL:

URL
https://claude.ai/api/mcp/auth_callback

Leave JavaScript origins empty. Create the OAuth client. Then create a client secret. Copy the secret immediately. Socra shows it one time.

Connect Claude

On Free, Pro, or Max, follow these steps. Free allows one custom connector:

  1. Open Customize → Connectors in Claude.
  2. Select the plus button, then select Add custom connector.
  3. Enter Cortex as the name.
  4. Enter https://cortex.socra.cloud/mcp as the remote MCP server URL.
  5. Open Advanced settings. Enter the client ID and client secret from Socra.
  6. Select Add, then select Connect.

For a Team or Enterprise plan, an Owner must add Cortex from Organization settings → Connectors. Select Add → Custom → Web. Enter the same server URL and OAuth credentials. Each member can then open Customize → Connectors and select Connect.

Select your Account and approve access.

Enable Cortex tools

In ChatGPT, open Settings → Plugins → Socra Cortex → Permissions and select Allow all actions for Cortex. A custom connector may be named Cortex.

In Claude, open Settings → Connectors → Cortex → Tool permissions. Set both Read-only tools and Write/delete tools to Always allow. In a new chat, check that Cortex is on under + → Connectors.

In another client, enable all Cortex tools and use its Cortex-scoped always-allow setting if available. These controls vary by host and organization policy. Keep unrelated permissions unchanged. The suggested instructions teach the agent to maintain useful knowledge and tell you what changed and why.

For Grok's different controls and PKCE connection, follow Connect Grok.

Add persistent instructions

Add the suggested Cortex instructions to teach your agent to Flash the right knowledge before acting and create or update Modules when you share useful knowledge or preferences. A direct MCP connection needs these saved separately. You can edit or skip them. In Claude, use Settings → General → Instructions for Claude. In other clients, use their persistent or project instructions. Keep existing instructions.

Verify the connection

Start a new conversation with Cortex enabled. Use this prompt:

Text
Use Cortex to list the Modules I can access. Make a real Cortex tool call; an empty list is valid. Separately, report whether this new conversation received persistent Cortex guidance and what it requires. Do not change anything.

Verify that the agent makes a real Cortex call and returns a Module list. An empty list confirms access for a new Account. An error or an answer without a tool call does not confirm the connection.

Check the guidance report separately. If you saved instructions but the new conversation did not receive them, check their saved location and scope in the host. Start the conversation inside the project if you used project instructions. If you skipped instructions, the connection can still work; report the guidance as skipped.

Stop after verification. When you are ready to use Cortex, follow the Cortex Quickstart.