# Connect Adeli to Claude (MCP setup for Claude Code & Desktop)

Add Adeli's MCP server to Claude Code or Claude Desktop and let Claude publish posts, read analytics, and answer comments across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X.

Canonical page: https://www.tryadeli.com/agents/claude
Last updated: 2026-10-08

Post, schedule, reply to comments or messages, and read analytics on social accounts you own, all within Claude.

Claude Code connects in one command. Claude Desktop connects through mcp-remote. On claude.ai, it works if your account has the request-headers beta.

## If you are an AI agent reading this

The user wants you to connect Adeli. Follow the prompt below. Ask the user for anything marked as theirs, and ask before any action that publishes or changes their accounts.

```text
Set up Adeli in Claude Code so you can publish posts, read analytics, and manage comments and DMs on my social accounts (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X).

Full instructions: https://www.tryadeli.com/agents/claude.md

About Adeli:
- MCP server: https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP)
- Auth: header `Authorization: Bearer <ADELI_API_KEY>`. API key only, no OAuth.
- REST API with the same key: https://app.tryadeli.com/api/v1
- Docs for agents: https://app.tryadeli.com/docs/llms.txt

Do this:
1. Ask me for my Adeli API key (it starts with rk_live_). If I don't have one, tell me to sign up free at https://app.tryadeli.com, connect my social accounts, and create a key at https://app.tryadeli.com/settings/api-keys. Keep the key out of chat logs, public files, and git; store it in an environment variable or the app's secret settings.
2. If you are Claude Code: run `claude mcp add --transport http adeli https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer $ADELI_API_KEY"` (add `--scope user` if I want it in every project). Then confirm with `claude mcp list`.
3. If you are Claude Desktop or claude.ai and can't run commands: walk me through the steps on the page one at a time and wait for me to confirm each. First try claude.ai's custom connector with a request header (Customize → Connectors → Add custom connector, URL https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp, Authentication "No sign-in", request header authorization = "Bearer <key>"). If I don't see Request headers, switch to Claude Desktop: Settings → Developer → Edit Config, paste the mcp-remote block from the page, then restart.
4. Verify: call the list_accounts tool (or GET https://app.tryadeli.com/api/v1/accounts) and show me my connected accounts. A 401 means the key is wrong or revoked.

Rules once connected:
- Always ask me before you publish, reply, send a message, delete, or disconnect anything. These act on my real accounts.
- Start with list_accounts and use its accountId values. Leave profileId out.
- For TikTok and YouTube video, pass a public HTTPS video URL, not a file upload.
```

## Before you start

1. Create a free Adeli account at https://app.tryadeli.com (sign in with Google; first 3 connected accounts free, no credit card).
2. Connect your social accounts in the Adeli dashboard.
3. Create an API key at https://app.tryadeli.com/settings/api-keys. It starts with `rk_live_`.

## Set it up by hand

### Claude Code

Claude Code takes a remote MCP server with a custom header, so this is one command.

1. **Create an Adeli API key.** Sign in to Adeli, connect your social accounts, then go to Settings → API keys and create a key. It starts with rk_live_. Copy it somewhere safe; you'll paste it in a moment.

2. **Put the key in your shell.** In the terminal you run Claude Code from, set your key as an environment variable so it never sits in your command history as plain text.

   Terminal:

   ```bash
   export ADELI_API_KEY="rk_live_YOUR_KEY"
   ```

3. **Add the Adeli server.** Run this once. Add --scope user to make Adeli available in every project, not just the current folder.

   Terminal:

   ```bash
   claude mcp add --transport http adeli https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp \
     --header "Authorization: Bearer $ADELI_API_KEY"
   ```

4. **Check it's connected.** Start Claude Code and type /mcp. You should see adeli listed as connected. Then ask Claude to list your Adeli accounts.

   Claude Code:

   ```text
   /mcp
   ```

### Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop's Connectors screen needs OAuth unless your account has the request-headers beta (see the claude.ai tab). This route works for everyone: add Adeli to claude_desktop_config.json with mcp-remote, which passes your key along. You need Node.js installed.

1. **Create an Adeli API key.** Sign in to Adeli, connect your social accounts, then go to Settings → API keys and create a key. It starts with rk_live_. Copy it somewhere safe; you'll paste it in a moment.

2. **Open the config file.** In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Developer → Edit Config. That opens claude_desktop_config.json (macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/, Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\).

3. **Add Adeli.** Paste this in, replacing rk_live_YOUR_KEY with your key. If the file already has an mcpServers block, add the adeli entry inside it.

   claude_desktop_config.json:

   ```json
   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "adeli": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": [
           "-y", "mcp-remote", "https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp",
           "--header", "Authorization:${ADELI_AUTH}"
         ],
         "env": { "ADELI_AUTH": "Bearer rk_live_YOUR_KEY" }
       }
     }
   }
   ```

4. **Restart Claude Desktop.** Quit Claude Desktop completely and reopen it. Adeli's tools appear under the tools (search and tools) menu in a new chat.

### claude.ai

claude.ai custom connectors normally sign in with OAuth, which Adeli doesn't support yet. Some accounts have a beta that lets a connector send a request header instead. Check whether you have it. If you don't, use Claude Desktop (the tab above) on the same account.

1. **Open custom connectors.** On claude.ai go to Customize → Connectors → Add custom connector. On Team and Enterprise plans, an Owner adds it under Organization settings → Connectors → Add → Custom → Web.

2. **Add Adeli with a request header (beta).** MCP server URL: https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp  
   Authentication: No sign-in  
   Request headers: choose authorization, enter the value below with your own key (include the word Bearer), and mark it Required. Then click Add.  
   If you don't see Request headers, your account doesn't have the beta yet. Use Claude Desktop instead.

   authorization header value:

   ```text
   Bearer rk_live_YOUR_KEY
   ```

3. **Turn it on in a chat.** In a new chat, open the tools menu and switch Adeli on. Then ask Claude to list your Adeli accounts.

## Things to ask once it's connected

- List my connected Adeli accounts and tell me which platforms they're on.
- How did my Instagram posts do over the last 30 days? Show reach and engagement for the top 5.
- Show me unanswered comments on my latest TikTok and draft a reply to each. Don't send anything yet.
- Turn the README in this repo into a launch post and publish it to my X account. Show me the text first.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I add Adeli as a custom connector on claude.ai?

Only if your account has Claude's request-headers beta. Without it, custom connectors offer OAuth or no auth, and Adeli's MCP server takes an API key. Use Claude Code or Claude Desktop with mcp-remote instead. Both work on the same Claude account.

### Where does Claude Code store my Adeli key?

Claude Code expands $ADELI_API_KEY when you run `claude mcp add` and saves the header in its local config (~/.claude.json, or .mcp.json for project scope). Don't commit a project-scoped .mcp.json that contains the key.

### Will Claude post without asking me?

Adeli marks publishing, replying, messaging, and disconnecting as actions to confirm, and its server instructions tell Claude to ask first. Claude Code also shows a permission prompt before running any tool unless you've allowed it.

## Reference

- MCP setup for every client: https://app.tryadeli.com/docs/mcp
- MCP tool list: https://app.tryadeli.com/docs/mcp/tools
- REST API docs: https://app.tryadeli.com/docs
- All agent setup guides: https://www.tryadeli.com/agents

## Other pages

- [Adeli — Unified Social Media API](https://www.tryadeli.com/index.md): A unified social media API: publish, schedule, and measure posts across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X with a single request.
- [Adeli Pricing — priced per connected account](https://www.tryadeli.com/pricing.md): Your first 3 connected accounts are free, then $5 each for accounts 4–10, $3 each for 11–50, $2 each for 51–100, and $1 each up to 2,000. Above that, talk to sales.
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.tryadeli.com/privacy-policy.md): What personal information King's Cross Labs collects through Adeli, why, and what you can do about it.
- [Terms of Service](https://www.tryadeli.com/terms.md): The binding agreement between you and King's Cross Labs governing your use of Adeli.
- [Social Media Posting & Scheduling API](https://www.tryadeli.com/social-media-posting-api.md): Adeli's social media posting and scheduling API publishes to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X in one request, now or at a set time. Free to start.
- [Social Media Analytics API](https://www.tryadeli.com/social-media-analytics-api.md): Adeli returns post analytics — engagement, reach, follower metrics — through the same endpoint you publish with, not a separate, dedicated analytics API.
- [Social Media Commenting API](https://www.tryadeli.com/social-media-commenting-api.md): Read, reply to, and moderate comments on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X posts through the same API you publish with.
- [Social Media Messaging API](https://www.tryadeli.com/social-media-messaging-api.md): Read and reply to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X DMs through the same API you publish with. No outbound or unsolicited messaging.
- [Instagram API for Developers](https://www.tryadeli.com/product/instagram.md): Publish, schedule, and read analytics for Instagram through one API. Adeli owns the Instagram developer app, token refresh, and Meta review. Free to start.
- [TikTok API for Developers](https://www.tryadeli.com/product/tiktok.md): Publish, schedule, and read analytics for TikTok through one API. Adeli owns the TikTok developer app, token refresh, and review process. Free to start.
- [YouTube API for Developers](https://www.tryadeli.com/product/youtube.md): Publish, schedule, and read analytics for YouTube through one API. Adeli owns the YouTube developer app, token refresh, and Google review. Free to start.
- [Facebook API for Developers](https://www.tryadeli.com/product/facebook.md): Publish, schedule, and read analytics for Facebook Pages through one API. Adeli owns the Facebook developer app, token refresh, and Meta review. Free to start.
- [X (Twitter) API for Developers](https://www.tryadeli.com/product/x.md): Publish, schedule, and read analytics for X (Twitter) through one API. Adeli owns the X developer app, token refresh, and review process. Free to start.
- [Adeli Compared to Other Social Media APIs](https://www.tryadeli.com/compare.md): Sourced, side-by-side comparisons of Adeli against Ayrshare, Upload-Post, and the Buffer API, on price, free tier, and API focus.
- [Ayrshare Alternative: Adeli vs. Ayrshare API Pricing](https://www.tryadeli.com/compare/ayrshare.md): Adeli vs. Ayrshare: 3 connected accounts free, no $149/month minimum, and a lower bill at every account cap Ayrshare publishes. Sourced pricing.
- [Upload-Post Alternative: Adeli vs. Upload-Post Pricing](https://www.tryadeli.com/compare/upload-post.md): Adeli vs. Upload-Post: 3 free connected accounts with TikTok and no upload cap, and a lower bill at both of Upload-Post's published tier caps.
- [Late API Alternative: Adeli vs. Zernio (formerly Late)](https://www.tryadeli.com/compare/zernio.md): Zernio is the rebranded Late (getlate.dev). Adeli bills per connected account too, but costs less at every Zernio example bill and gives 3 free accounts.
- [Buffer API Alternative for Developers: Adeli vs. Buffer](https://www.tryadeli.com/compare/buffer.md): Buffer is a social media app; its API automates a Buffer account, with small daily limits. Adeli is API-first, for developers embedding social in their product.
- [The Adeli Blog](https://www.tryadeli.com/blog.md): Guides, explainers, and changelogs on publishing to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X through one social media API.
- [Post to Social Media from Claude, ChatGPT, or an AI Agent](https://www.tryadeli.com/agents.md): Setup guides for connecting Adeli's MCP server to Claude, ChatGPT/Codex, Cursor, Grok, OpenClaw, Hermes, Manus, Notion, n8n, and Zapier, each with a prompt you can send to your agent.