# Connect Adeli to Cursor (MCP setup)

Add Adeli's MCP server to Cursor with one mcp.json entry and let Cursor's agent publish posts, read analytics, and manage comments across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X.

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

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

Cursor takes remote MCP servers with headers, so Adeli connects directly with your API key.

## 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 Cursor's agent 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/cursor.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. Add an `adeli` entry to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (create the file if missing; keep any servers already there) with url `https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp` and headers `{ "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:ADELI_API_KEY}" }`.
3. Make sure ADELI_API_KEY is exported in my shell profile (ask me for the key; don't write it into a file inside a git repo). Then tell me to restart Cursor and check Cursor Settings → Tools & MCP for a green dot next to adeli.
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

### Cursor

Add Adeli once in your global mcp.json, or per project in .cursor/mcp.json.

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 MCP settings.** In Cursor, open Cursor Settings → Tools & MCP, then click New MCP Server (or Add Custom MCP). That opens mcp.json.

3. **Add the Adeli server.** Paste this in. ${env:ADELI_API_KEY} reads your key from the environment so it never sits in the file. Set ADELI_API_KEY in your shell profile and restart Cursor, or paste the key in its place if you'd rather.

   ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

   ```json
   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "adeli": {
         "url": "https://app.tryadeli.com/mcp",
         "headers": {
           "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:ADELI_API_KEY}"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   ```

4. **Check it's connected.** Back in Tools & MCP, adeli should show a green dot and a list of tools. Open the agent chat and ask it 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.
- Draft an announcement for the release in CHANGELOG.md and publish it to my X account after I approve it.

## Frequently asked questions

### Should I add Adeli globally or per project?

Global (~/.cursor/mcp.json) if you want it everywhere. Per project (.cursor/mcp.json) if only one codebase needs it. If you go per project, use ${env:ADELI_API_KEY} rather than the raw key so the file is safe to commit.

### The server shows red or no tools. What's wrong?

Usually the key. A missing or revoked key returns 401 before any tool loads. Check that ADELI_API_KEY is set in the environment Cursor was launched from, then restart Cursor.

## 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.