---
title: Elastic Agent Builder MCP server
description: Learn how to connect Claude Desktop, Cursor, and VS Code to Elastic Agent Builder tools using the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server.
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/7388/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/mcp-server
products:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless
  - Elastic Observability
  - Elastic Security
  - Elasticsearch
  - Kibana
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available
  - Elastic Stack: Generally available since 9.3, Preview in 9.2
---

# Elastic Agent Builder MCP server
The [**Model Context Protocol (MCP) server**](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/getting-started/intro) provides a standardized interface for external clients to access Elastic Agent Builder tools.

## MCP server endpoint

The MCP server is available at:
```
{KIBANA_URL}/api/agent_builder/mcp
```

When using a custom Kibana Space, include the space name in the URL:
```
{KIBANA_URL}/s/{SPACE_NAME}/api/agent_builder/mcp
```

<tip>
  You can copy your MCP server URL directly in the Tools GUI. Refer to [Tools in Elastic Agent Builder > MCP server access](/elastic/docs-content/pull/7388/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/tools#mcp-server-access).
</tip>


## Configuring MCP clients

Most MCP clients (such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, etc.) have similar configuration patterns. To connect to your Elastic instance, you need to provide your Kibana URL and API key in the client's configuration file, typically in the following format:
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elastic-agent-builder": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "${KIBANA_URL}/api/agent_builder/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}"
      ],
      "env": {
        "KIBANA_URL": "${KIBANA_URL}",
        "AUTH_HEADER": "ApiKey ${API_KEY}" 
      }
    }
  }
}
```

<note>
  Set the following environment variables:
  ```bash
  export KIBANA_URL="your-kibana-url"
  export API_KEY="your-api-key"
  ```
  For a complete API key example, refer to [Create a read-only client key](/elastic/docs-content/pull/7388/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/api-keys#create-a-read-only-client-key).Tools execute with the scope assigned to the API key. Restrict the key to only the spaces, indices, and data that you want to expose through the MCP server.
</note>

The key must include `feature_agentBuilder.read` for the space in the MCP endpoint URL. Without this application privilege, the MCP endpoint returns `403 Forbidden`.