Connect Claude Desktop

TL;DR — Drop one JSON block into Claude Desktop's config, restart, paste the setup prompt, done.

Prerequisites

• A Customermates account with a 64-character API key. Create one at Profile → API Keys. See API keys if you need a refresher.
• A current Claude Desktop build with MCP support.

Configure

Open Claude → Settings → Developer → Edit Config. Merge this into the JSON:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "customermates": {
      "url": "https://customermates.com/api/v1/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "x-api-key": "${CUSTOMERMATES_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}

If you self-host, swap the URL for your instance.

Export the key from your shell profile so it is not checked into the config file:

echo 'export CUSTOMERMATES_API_KEY=your-64-character-key' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Restart Claude Desktop. The server appears in the tools panel with all Customermates tools listed.

First conversation

Open a new chat. Paste the setup prompt as the first message. Claude will ask for the API key (again, so it has it in context), confirm what's in your CRM, and be ready to work.

Troubleshooting

Tips

• Claude Desktop doesn't hot-reload MCP configs. Always restart after edits.
• Use one API key per client if you want audit-log granularity.
• If you switch to a new project (say, a different company in Customermates), create a new API key and drop a customermates-<tenant> server entry in the config.

Next

• MCP tool catalog — every tool Claude can call.
• Webhook events — what fires when Claude changes data.
• Connect Cursor — same server, different client.