ChatGPT
Connect your server to ChatGPT as a remote MCP connector via developer mode
ChatGPT connects to your server as a custom remote MCP connector through
OpenAI's developer mode. Because ChatGPT runs in OpenAI's cloud (not
locally), you point it at your public streamable-HTTP endpoint at /mcp,
never localhost.
Account requirements
Custom connectors need ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu. Developer mode on Business/Enterprise/Edu must be enabled by a workspace admin. ChatGPT Free cannot create custom connectors.
Get your connection URL
The connection URL is just the streamable-HTTP endpoint:
https://YOUR-DEPLOYMENT/mcpConfigure OAuth 2.1 on your deployment so ChatGPT can
authenticate on connect - you'll pick OAuth as the connector's auth method
in Step 3. ChatGPT's connector can't send a custom X-API-KEY header, so the
header-based API-key path that local clients use doesn't
apply here.
Enable developer mode
- Open ChatGPT Settings > Apps & Connectors.
- Scroll to Advanced settings at the bottom.
- Toggle Developer mode on.
OpenAI notes that developer mode gives ChatGPT full read/write access to the tools you expose. Your server still enforces its own auth and policy on every call as an additional layer.
Add the custom connector
Under Settings > Apps & Connectors, open Apps and click Create, then:
- Enter a name (e.g.
daysurface); icon and description are optional. - Keep Server URL selected under Connection.
- Paste your connection URL from Step 1.
- Set Authentication to OAuth - ChatGPT discovers your server's authorization server and walks you through consent. (Use No Auth only if your deployment runs with no auth configured, e.g. a private internal deployment.)
- Check the box acknowledging the risk warning.
- Click Create.
ChatGPT connects and lists your available tools. Enable them per-conversation from the composer's Tools menu.
Teams: each member connects with their own account
With OAuth, every member signs in individually on connect, so tool calls are attributed to the right user. For a team rollout, have the workspace admin enable developer mode under Workspace Settings > Permissions & roles > Connected data, then let each member add their own connector.
Related
- Claude Web & Cowork - the equivalent flow for Anthropic's cloud clients
- OAuth 2.1 - zero-provisioning auth for cloud clients
- Tools - what your server exposes