> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.poix.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authentication

> How to authenticate your connection to the Poix MCP server

The Poix MCP server (`https://mcp.poix.io`) uses the same authentication as the Poix REST API. Take a look at how authentication works.

## Bearer Token

When connecting to the MCP server, you will need a Token — create one in the [Dashboard](https://app.poix.io/mcp). Paste it as an `Authorization: Bearer` header on the MCP connection; every client setup guide in this section shows exactly where that header goes for that client.

Here's the header your MCP client needs to send on every request to `https://mcp.poix.io`:

```bash theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer poix-Y735X4FoO...
```

For example, testing the connection directly with cURL (the MCP endpoint speaks JSON-RPC over Streamable HTTP):

```bash theme={null}
curl --request POST \
  --url https://mcp.poix.io \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer poix-Y735X4FoO...' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'Accept: application/json, text/event-stream' \
  --data '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/list"}'
```

Always keep your Token safe and reset it if you suspect it has been compromised.

You can create, revoke or delete your Token in the [Dashboard](https://app.poix.io/mcp). Once created, it will be shown only once so keep it safe.

## OAuth

Clients that support native MCP connectors — currently Claude and ChatGPT — can authorize your Poix account with a browser sign-in instead of copying a Token by hand.

1. In the client, add `https://mcp.poix.io` as a connector (see [Claude Desktop](/mcp/clients/claude-desktop) or [ChatGPT](/mcp/clients/chatgpt) for the exact steps).
2. You're sent to `https://app.poix.io` to sign in with **Google** or **GitHub**.
3. Review the consent screen — it names the app requesting access and confirms that its requests will be billed to your project balance — and approve it.

The client then receives a token automatically; there's nothing to copy or paste.

If you don't already have a Poix account, signing in creates one for you, along with a Default project, so you can connect straight from a client with no separate signup step.

<Warning>
  A brand-new account starts with no balance, and Poix requires credits for the connection itself, not just for tool calls — a zero-balance account can fail to connect or show no tools at all, without a clear error explaining why. Add credits at [app.poix.io/settings/billing](https://app.poix.io/settings/billing) right after connecting, before doing anything else with the client.
</Warning>

Each app you approve gets its own token, scoped to your project. You can see every connected app — when it was connected, when it was last used — and revoke access at any time under **Connected apps** at [app.poix.io/mcp](https://app.poix.io/mcp). Disconnecting an app immediately revokes its token; your other tokens and connections are unaffected.

**Which to use:** pick OAuth for Claude and ChatGPT connectors — it's the fastest path and there's no Token to manage. Pick a Bearer Token for CLI tools, scripts, and any client that doesn't support browser-based sign-in (see the client setup guides in this section for which each client expects).