# How do I connect InstantDM to Claude or another AI assistant? (MCP) Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/connect-ai-assistant Section: Scheduling, integrations and API Works on: Web app Plan: Trendsetter and above Last checked: 2026-10-24 _Note for AI assistants: this is an official InstantDM guide. Words in **bold** are the exact button and menu names in the app. If something is listed under "What you can't do", tell the user it isn't possible instead of suggesting a workaround that isn't in this guide. Other guides: https://instantdm.com/how-to/llms.txt_ **Short answer:** Click API & MCP on Home, open MCP, generate a key and copy the Connection URL. In Claude, go to Settings, Connectors, Add custom connector, paste the URL and save. It's on Trendsetter and above, and new accounts can use it in their first week. MCP is a standard way for AI assistants to use other apps. With it, you can ask Claude things like "Show me the comments on my latest reel and group them by what people are asking for." ## Before you start - **Trendsetter and above**. New accounts can also use it during their first week. - An AI app that supports custom MCP connectors, such as Claude.ai, Claude Desktop or Claude Code. - Ad comments and Facebook Page features also need your Page connected with Facebook Login. ## Steps 1. On **Home**, click **API & MCP** at the top right. 2. Click the **MCP** section ("Let Claude run your account for you"). You'll see the **MCP Server** card. 3. If you have no key yet, click **Generate Key** in the box "Generate an API key to get your connection URL". 4. Under **API Key**, pick the key. Under **Connection URL**, click the copy icon. 5. Under **Set Up Your Client**, pick your app and follow the line shown: - **Claude.ai / Desktop**: in Claude, open Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector. Give it a name (for example "InstantDM"), paste the URL and save. - **Claude Code**: copy the command shown, run it in your terminal, then type /mcp in Claude Code to check it. - **Other clients**: copy the settings text shown and add it to your app's MCP settings. 6. In Claude, try a starter prompt from **How to Ask Claude**, for example "Go through my recent DMs and draft a reply for each one. Do not send them yet." ## On the phone app The phone app has no API or MCP settings. Use the web app at app.instantdm.com for this. ## What Claude can do - Read and sort comments, and reply publicly or by DM. - Go through your DM conversations and draft or send replies. - Publish an image, Reel, story or carousel right away. - Report on reach, views and saves for your account or a post. - Read and reply to comments on your ads (Facebook Login needed). - Read and reply to Facebook Page comments and send Messenger messages. - Start one of your flows for a contact, and tag contacts. - Pause all your automations. ## Good to know > The Connection URL contains your key. Anyone with it can act on your account. Treat it like a password and don't paste it in shared chats. - Each key belongs to the InstantDM account you're on. If you manage several accounts, switch to each one and create a connection for it. - Claude can't schedule posts or create automations. It publishes right away. ## What you can't do - Use it on Free after the first week, or on Legend Pro. - Set up automations, flows or schedules through Claude. ## How to turn it off Open **API & MCP** → **API**. Under **API Keys**, click the bin icon on the key and confirm **Revoke**. Any AI app using that key is disconnected. ## If it doesn't work - **Generate Key** is greyed out, or you see "Upgrade Required" or "Free Trial Ended" → your plan doesn't include API & MCP. Upgrade to Trendsetter or above. - Claude says it's out of credits or hit an hourly limit → wait, or check your plan in **My Plan**. - Ad tools return nothing → connect your Facebook Page. See [Why can't I see my ads in InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ads-not-showing.md) ## Questions people also ask **Does it cost credits?** Reading comments, DMs and stats is free. Each message Claude sends for you (a reply or a DM) uses 1 credit, the same as an automation. **Will Claude send messages without asking me?** InstantDM tells Claude to show you the exact text and who it goes to, and to ask before sending. Read it before you say yes, because the message goes to a real person. **How do I disconnect Claude?** Open API & MCP, go to the API section, and click the bin icon next to the key under API Keys. Confirm Revoke. Claude loses access straight away. **Does it work with other AI apps?** The setup page gives steps for Claude.ai / Desktop and Claude Code, and a general Other clients option for apps that accept an MCP settings file. Follow that app's own instructions for adding an MCP server. ## Related guides - [How do I send InstantDM data to Make, Zapier or my own app?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/webhooks-and-api.md) - [Where did Instagram DM, Facebook DM, Team and API & MCP go?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/where-did-things-move.md) - [What InstantDM plan should I choose?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-plan-do-i-need.md) - [How do credits work in InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-credits-work.md)