Add Shindig to Claude with your API key

This page is a setup guide for Shopify merchants who use Claude with Shindig. Claude connects the same way as every other assistant, over Streamable HTTP with your Bearer API key. The Free plan does not include API or MCP. Plus is $4.99 per month or $45 per year, and Plus50 is $24.95 per month or $224.55 per year. Each paid plan includes a 14-day free trial. API and MCP need Plus or Plus50.

Every assistant connects the same way

Shindig's MCP endpoint is Streamable HTTP. Send this header on every request. The value is the Company Config API key:

Authorization: Bearer <Company Config API key>

In the Shopify admin, open Shindig, then Settings, then Company Config, then API & MCP Access. Company Config shows the URL and the API key. Rotate the key there if it may have been exposed. API and MCP need Plus or Plus50. The same key works for the REST API. REST API quickstart.

When the client connects, it receives Shindig's server instructions plus these resources: guide://shindig/agent, schema://shindig/save-event, and Help Center articles at help://shindig/... (the index is help://shindig/index).

Follow these steps in Claude

  1. Copy the MCP URL and API key. The server is Streamable HTTP.
  2. Add a custom connector in Claude. On a Team or Enterprise plan, an Owner opens Organization settings, then Connectors, then Add, then Custom, then Web. On Enterprise, a member whose role can manage libraries can add it too. Members then open Customize, then Connectors, and click Connect. On a Free, Pro, or Max plan, open Customize, then Connectors, then Add custom connector. A Free plan can add one custom connector.
  3. Enter the MCP URL and choose No sign-in. Paste the MCP URL from Company Config. Under Authentication, choose No sign-in. Shindig does not offer OAuth on this server. Leave Advanced transport unchanged. The URL ends in /mcp, not /sse.
  4. Add the Authorization header. Under Request headers, choose the authorization header. Set the value to the word Bearer, a space, and the API key. Claude sends that value exactly as typed and does not add Bearer for you. You can add up to four headers. A custom header name that is not on Claude's list has to be approved before it will save, so use the authorization name from the list.
  5. Turn the connector on for a chat. Open the plus button in the chat, choose Connectors, and turn this connector on. You cannot change the header after saving. Remove the connector and add it again if the key changes.

Use the REST API if Request headers is missing

Claude's docs say request-header authentication is in beta for a limited set of organizations. If the Add custom connector dialog has no Request headers section, your organization does not have that beta. Use the REST API quickstart from a client that can send Authorization: Bearer and your API key.

Add the same server in Claude Code

Claude Code can add a remote HTTP server from the terminal. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your API key.

claude mcp add --transport http shindig https://shindig.directsales.software/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

The command is the one in Claude Code's MCP docs: Connect Claude Code to tools via MCP. That page documents --transport http and --header "Authorization: Bearer your-token".

These steps follow Add a connector that isn't in the directory.

Read another Shindig guide

Claude is a trademark of Anthropic. ChatGPT is a trademark of OpenAI. Grok Bot and Cursor are trademarks of their respective owners. Shindig is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by those companies. Works with means you connect your own account.