Why connect external tools?
When you chat with the Instill Agent, it can already work with your collections, files, and data. But sometimes you need it to do more — like draw a diagram, create a GitHub issue, or look up a Linear ticket.
By connecting an external MCP server to your Instill workspace, you give the Agent access to that tool's capabilities. The Agent can then use these tools during any conversation, just like it uses your collections.
How to connect an external MCP server
Go to Settings > MCP Servers to manage external MCP server connections for your agents.
Preset Server (Recommended)
The MCP Servers page displays a gallery of pre-configured servers. Each card shows the server name, icon, and a brief description of its capabilities.
To add a preset server:
Find the server you want in the gallery
Click the Add button on its card
An OAuth authorization popup will open automatically
Authenticate with the service provider (e.g., sign in to your Google account, Slack workspace, etc.) and grant the requested permissions
Once authorized, the popup closes and the server status changes to Connected
Notes
Some preset servers (Google Workspace, Slack, HubSpot, GitHub) use platform-managed OAuth credentials — no Client ID or Secret is needed from you. Other preset servers (Linear, Stripe, Notion, Attio, PostHog, Granola, Fireflies) support Dynamic Client Registration (DCR), so the OAuth flow is handled entirely by the MCP protocol.
Custom Server
Go to Settings > MCP Servers
Click Add MCP Server
Enter the server details:
Name: A display name (e.g., "Stripe")
Server URL: The MCP endpoint URL (e.g., https://mcp.stripe.com/sse)
Auth Type: Choose None, API Key, or OAuth depending on what the server requires
Click Save
Once saved, the Instill Agent will automatically discover the tools provided by that server. You can start using them in your next conversation.
Managing Active MCP Servers
Enabling many MCP servers at once increases the Agent's context size, which can lead to faster credit consumption and slower responses. We recommend keeping only the MCP servers you currently need toggled on.
Disabling a server simply unmounts it from the Agent's context — your authentication is preserved, so you can re-enable it instantly without reconnecting.
Authentication methods
None — For public servers that don't require login.
API Key — Enter a token provided by the external service.
OAuth — Click "Connect" or "Add" to complete a browser-based login flow.
How it works in chat
Once connected, the Agent can use the external tools during conversations. Just describe what you need, and the Agent will pick the right tool automatically.
For example, if you've connected a project management tool like Linear, you can ask the Agent to "create a bug ticket for the login issue" — and it will handle it directly in your chat.
Managing connections
You can manage all your external tool connections in the Instill under Settings > MCP Servers.
From there, you can:
View tools: Each connection lists the tools it provides. Hover over a tool to see its parameters.
Check status: Connections are tested automatically when the page loads. A green dot means connected; gray means disconnected.
Edit or remove: Click on a connection to update its URL or authentication, or delete it if no longer needed.