---
title: Connect a stdio-only client (mcp-remote)
description: Bridge looot's remote MCP server into a client that only speaks stdio, with the mcp-remote package.
sidebar:
  label: mcp-remote
---

<ClientHeader id="mcp-remote" />

Some MCP clients only launch a local process over stdio and can't call a remote HTTP server
directly. The `mcp-remote` package bridges the two: it runs the browser sign-in on your machine
and speaks stdio to the client.

Before you start you need a looot account. The runs you make spend the organization's balance, so
top up before your first paid run. See [Before your first run](/money#before-your-first-run).

:::note
Not tested by hand yet. Steps follow [the client's own docs](https://www.npmjs.com/package/mcp-remote); if a menu has moved, that page wins.
:::

## Sign in with the browser

The server URL is `https://api.looot.ai/mcp`. Nothing to copy: you sign in on looot.ai, pick the organization to bill and click **Connect**.

**mcpServers entry**

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "looot": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote@0.14.3",
        "https://api.looot.ai/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Headless: a token in the header

Only for CI and machines with no browser. Create an agent token in [Settings](https://looot.ai/settings) and send it as `Authorization: Bearer <token>`. Never commit it.

**Headless: pass the header through the bridge**

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "looot": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote@0.14.3",
        "https://api.looot.ai/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization: Bearer <agent token from looot.ai Settings>"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Notes

- mcp-remote runs the browser sign-in locally and speaks stdio to the client. The version is pinned on purpose.

## Check it works

Ask the agent to call [`balance`](/mcp-tools/balance) or [`catalog_overview`](/mcp-tools/catalog-overview). Both are free. A working connection
answers with your available balance, or the catalog's categories and job counts.

## What you see when you connect

The bridge opens looot.ai in your browser and shows the consent page: which organization to
bill, which scopes to grant and how long to stay connected. See
[The consent page](/connect#the-consent-page).

<Related />