October 18, 2026
ChatGPT can call tools on a remote MCP server, which means you can give it capabilities it does not have by itself: reading a live website, querying your own data, running your own tools. The short version: turn on developer mode, create a custom connector with the server’s HTTPS /mcp URL, sign in if the server asks, then enable the connector in a chat. The details below.
What the server needs
- It must be remote. ChatGPT reaches the server over the internet, so it needs a public HTTPS URL. A local server has to be hosted first.
- A real MCP endpoint. The connector URL is the server’s MCP path, usually ending in
/mcp. Opening the bare domain in a browser shows a website, not the endpoint. - A sign-in method ChatGPT can run. Servers that need an account typically use OAuth, and ChatGPT opens the sign-in for you. OpenAI’s help article advises checking that your OAuth provider issues refresh tokens, so the connection does not drop when the first token expires.
Step by step
- Turn on developer mode. In ChatGPT’s settings, find the connectors or apps section and its advanced settings, and switch on developer mode. You may be shown a warning that custom connectors are not verified: custom servers are not reviewed by OpenAI.
- Create the connector. In the connectors settings, choose to create a new one. You will be asked for a name, an optional description, the server’s MCP URL, and how it authenticates.
- Sign in. If the server uses OAuth, ChatGPT opens a sign-in tab the first time you use it. Approve the access.
- Use it. Start a chat, enable the connector for it, and ask for what the server does. ChatGPT lists the tools it discovered.
- Refresh after changes. If the server adds or renames tools, look for a refresh option on the connector in settings so ChatGPT re-reads the tool list.
Actions that change something (writes) ask for your confirmation before they run, which is a reason to read each prompt rather than approving by habit.
A worked example: Enrichr
Enrichr is a remote MCP server that gives ChatGPT a real browser to read a website with. Its endpoint is https://enrichr.dev/mcp, and it signs in with OAuth, so there is no API key to copy. In the connector dialog the fields are the name (Enrichr), a short description, the URL above, and OAuth as the authentication. The first time you ask ChatGPT to analyse a site, it opens a sign-in tab and you click Allow. Our step-by-step ChatGPT guide has the full walkthrough, and the 8 best ChatGPT MCP connectors covers other servers worth adding.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No developer mode option | Your plan or workspace does not allow it, or an admin controls it | Check OpenAI’s help article for your plan, or ask your workspace admin |
| Connector will not save or connect | Wrong URL: missing /mcp, not HTTPS, or the bare domain | Use the server’s documented MCP endpoint |
| Opening the URL in a browser shows 401 | Normal for a server that needs sign-in | Nothing; ChatGPT uses it to start OAuth |
| Works, then stops after a while | Expired token and no refresh token from the OAuth provider | Reconnect, and ask the server’s owner to issue refresh tokens |
| New tools do not appear | ChatGPT has the old tool list | Refresh the connector in settings |
Staying safe
A custom connector gives a server the ability to act on your behalf, so add only servers you trust, read what each tool can do, and prefer read-only access where you can. For a longer checklist, see MCP server security: how not to get burned. The same steps work for Claude, with a different setup: see how to add an MCP server to Claude Code.
FAQ
Does ChatGPT support MCP?
Yes, through custom connectors that point at a remote MCP server. They require developer mode, and access depends on your plan and workspace settings. OpenAI’s help article on developer mode and full MCP connectors is the source of truth for who can use it.
Can ChatGPT use a local MCP server?
Not directly. ChatGPT connects to remote servers over HTTPS, so a server that runs only on your own machine has to be hosted at a public URL first.
What URL do I enter for the connector?
The server’s MCP endpoint, which usually ends in /mcp, for example https://enrichr.dev/mcp. The bare domain is a website, not an MCP endpoint.
Why does my server return 401 when I open its URL?
An MCP server that needs sign-in answers 401 to a request with no credentials. That is expected, and OAuth-capable clients use it to start the sign-in flow. If ChatGPT cannot connect, check the URL, that it is HTTPS, and that the server publishes its OAuth details.
Is it safe to add a custom MCP server?
Only if you trust it. A custom server is not reviewed by OpenAI, and what it can do depends on its tools. Check what it can read and write before connecting it, and see our guide on MCP server security.