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

# Getting Started

> Connect your agent to the Kino MCP server

## Download the Kino desktop app

The MCP server is built into the Kino desktop app for [macOS](https://installer.kino.ai/mac/installer/universal), [Windows](https://installer.kino.ai/windows/nsis/x64), and [Linux](https://installer.kino.ai/linux/deb/x64). While the app is running, the server is available at:

```
http://127.0.0.1:45680/mcp
```

There are no API keys or tokens to manage. The server runs locally and uses the account already signed in to the desktop app.

> [!NOTE]
>
> The server runs only while the desktop app is open. A Kino tab in your browser does not start it.

## One-click install from the desktop app

In the Kino editor, click **Install MCP** in the action row. From the desktop app you can install directly into:

* **Claude Desktop** — opens Claude Desktop with a bundled Kino extension. Review it and click Install. The extension is a small adapter that forwards to the local server above; it defines no tools of its own.
* **ChatGPT (desktop app)** — opens ChatGPT's plugin install screen for the bundled Kino plugin, which points at the same local URL.

Both flows land in the host app's own review screen — nothing is added to your config silently. The same dialog also has the Cursor install prompt and copyable commands for Claude Code and the Codex CLI.

When a Kino update ships a new version of the extension or plugin, the copy inside Claude Desktop or ChatGPT does not update itself. Run the one-click install again to get the new version.

## Connect to Claude Code

The one-click flow above is for the Claude Desktop app. For the Claude Code CLI, run this in your terminal:

```bash theme={null}
claude mcp add kino --transport http http://127.0.0.1:45680/mcp --scope user
```

Start a new Claude Code session and run `/mcp`. You should see `kino` listed as connected.

## Connect to Codex

The one-click flow above is for the ChatGPT desktop app. For the Codex CLI, add Kino to `~/.codex/config.toml`:

```toml theme={null}
[mcp_servers.kino]
url = "http://127.0.0.1:45680/mcp"
```

In the ChatGPT desktop app, you can instead go to **Settings → MCP Servers**, choose **Streamable HTTP**, and paste the URL.

## Connect to Claude Desktop manually

If you are not using the one-click install, go to **Settings → Developer → Edit Config** and add Kino to your config file:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kino": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-remote", "http://127.0.0.1:45680/mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

Restart Claude Desktop after saving.

## Connect to Cursor

Add Kino to `.cursor/mcp.json` in your project (or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` for all projects):

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kino": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:45680/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

You can also add it from **Cursor Settings → MCP → Add new MCP server** with the same URL.

## Verify the connection

Ask your agent:

> List my recent Kino projects

The agent should call the `listProjects` tool and return projects from your library. If you want a deeper check, ask it to open one and take a screenshot of the timeline.

## Troubleshooting

* Make sure the Kino desktop app is open. The server stops when the app quits, and Claude Desktop and ChatGPT will report that Kino is not running.
* Restart your agent session after adding the server — most hosts only discover tools at session start.
* If tools were working and stop responding, restart the agent session first, then the host app (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.). Very long sessions are the most common cause.
* In Claude Code, `claude mcp list` shows whether `kino` is registered and `/mcp` shows whether it's connected.
* If the port is unreachable, check that nothing else is bound to `45680` and that the desktop app finished launching.
* After updating Kino, rerun the one-click install if Claude Desktop or ChatGPT are on an older copy of the extension or plugin.


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