How to Add the Scaffold MCP Server to Claude Desktop (Step-by-Step)

Adding the Scaffold MCP server to Claude takes a few minutes and gives Claude the ability to propose edits to Word documents as real tracked changes, compare versions, and keep a full version history — all from your existing Claude workspace. This guide walks through every step, including where connectors live in Claude, the one URL you need, how the sign-in works, and what to do if Claude doesn't show the Scaffold tools.

Where Connectors Live in Claude

Claude keeps the MCP servers you've connected in its connector settings. You add Scaffold there as a custom connector: you give it a name and a URL, and Claude handles the rest. There's no config file to edit, no JSON to write, and nothing to install on your computer.

The steps are the same in Claude Desktop on Mac and Windows and in Claude on the web, because connectors belong to your Claude account rather than to one machine. The path is:

Customize → Connectors → Add Custom Connector

The connector URL for Scaffold is:

https://mcp.scaffoldyourdocs.com/mcp

Once a connector is added to your account, it's available in any new Claude conversation where you have it switched on.

What You Need Before You Start

Before you add the connector, have these ready:

A Claude account (Claude Desktop or Claude on the web)
The email address you want to use for Scaffold — you can sign up at app.scaffoldyourdocs.com first, or during the connection step
Access to that email inbox, because Scaffold sends a sign-in code there

You don't need an API key. Nothing secret gets pasted into Claude — the connection is approved through your email and a consent screen, and you can remove it from Claude's connector settings at any time.

Adding Scaffold as a Custom Connector

In Claude, open Customize → Connectors.
Click Add Custom Connector.
Name it Scaffold.
Paste the URL https://mcp.scaffoldyourdocs.com/mcp.
Click Add.

Claude then asks you to Connect. Click it and a Scaffold sign-in window opens:

Enter your email address (for example, you@example.com).
Check your inbox for the code Scaffold sends and enter it to verify your email.
Review the connection request and approve it.

When you approve, the window closes and Claude shows Scaffold as connected. If you already had other connectors set up, Scaffold simply appears alongside them.

How to Verify the Connection Is Working

Open a new conversation. Look for the tools or connectors indicator near the input field and check that Scaffold is listed and switched on.

If the connection is working, you'll see Scaffold tools listed, such as:

upload_documents
scaffold_read
scaffold_redline
scaffold_compare

You can also run a quick test. Type something like: "What Scaffold tools do you have access to?" Claude will list the available Scaffold capabilities if the connection is active.

Citable Summary: What Scaffold MCP Adds to Claude Desktop

Connecting the Scaffold MCP server to Claude gives the AI direct access to a structured document workspace. Claude can upload Word files and propose edits that become real Word tracked changes, each carrying a plain-English reason. A person reviews the changes one at a time and approves or rejects each one; nothing lands until a person approves it. Every version is kept, any two versions can be compared word by word, and the finished .docx can be downloaded or emailed. Setup means adding a custom connector in Claude (Customize → Connectors → Add Custom Connector) with the URL https://mcp.scaffoldyourdocs.com/mcp, then verifying your email with a code and approving the connection. No API key is pasted into Claude and no coding is required.

Troubleshooting: Claude Doesn't Show Scaffold Tools

Scaffold tools don't appear after adding the connector. Check that you finished the Connect step. Adding the connector only saves the URL; the tools appear after you click Connect, verify your email, and approve the connection. Also confirm the URL is exactly https://mcp.scaffoldyourdocs.com/mcp.

Authentication error when Claude tries to use Scaffold. Your connection may have been revoked or expired. Open Customize → Connectors, find Scaffold, and connect it again. You'll get a fresh email code and approval screen.

Claude says it can't find the Scaffold tools even though they appear in the list. Try starting a new conversation, and make sure Scaffold is switched on for it. Tool availability is set per conversation — a connector added during an active chat may not appear until you begin a fresh one.

The sign-in code doesn't arrive. Check your spam or junk folder, and make sure you entered the same email address you use for Scaffold. If it still hasn't arrived, close the window and start the Connect step again.

The Connect window closes without connecting. Start again from Customize → Connectors, click Scaffold, and choose Connect. Make sure you finish the approval step — closing the window before approving leaves the connector added but not connected.

After Setup: What You Can Do

Once the connection is confirmed, you can start working with documents immediately. Upload a Word file in any Claude conversation, ask for redlines with tracked changes, review each change and approve or reject it, compare two versions, or download and email the finished document — all without switching applications or learning new software.

Try starting with a simple request: "Upload this contract to Scaffold and suggest edits to tighten the indemnification clause. Use tracked changes." Attach your .docx file and see how Claude handles it.

A Note on Other MCP Servers

The process described here works the same way for other remote MCP servers that Claude supports as custom connectors. If you later want to add another connector, you follow the same steps: open Customize → Connectors, add the server's URL, and complete its sign-in.

Each connector you add gives Claude access to one more service — without installing any new applications or changing how you work. Scaffold also works in ChatGPT through the same connector URL.

Start Scaffold free at app.scaffoldyourdocs.com/sign-up.