How to connect your bookmarks and notes to ChatGPT and Claude

The real power of an AI second brain is not just storing information — it is being able to query it conversationally. By connecting your CapturedIt library to ChatGPT and Claude, you transform static bookmarks into an interactive knowledge base.

Why connect your library to AI assistants?

Standard AI assistants have a knowledge cutoff and no access to your personal data. By connecting your library:

• Get answers grounded in sources you trust
• Reference specific research without searching
• Synthesize insights across months of accumulated knowledge
• Ask follow-up questions that drill into your saved content

How it works: MCP (Model Context Protocol)

MCP is an open standard that lets AI assistants connect to external data sources. Think of it like a USB port for AI — standardized, extensible, and supported by ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

With MCP, your AI assistant can:

• Search your library for relevant items
• Retrieve full content for context
• Save new items back to your library
• Answer questions based on your accumulated knowledge

Vault users connect with our hosted MCP URL (OAuth sign-in — no API key to paste for ChatGPT or Claude):

https://mcp.capturedit.app/api/mcp

If your dashboard shows a different connector URL, use that copy — it follows your CapturedIt environment.

Setting up ChatGPT (recommended)

OpenAI is moving Custom GPTs to Plugins. The easiest Vault path is Create MCP App in ChatGPT — the same Server URL + OAuth flow as other MCP clients.

Prerequisites

• CapturedIt Vault plan (required for MCP)
• ChatGPT account with access to Plugins / Developer mode (availability varies by plan)

Steps

1. In ChatGPT, open Settings → Apps & Connectors (or Security and login) and turn on Developer mode if prompted.
2. Open Plugins, select the plus button, and choose Create MCP App (or Add MCP server).
3. Name it CapturedIt. Connection: Server URL. Paste https://mcp.capturedit.app/api/mcp (or the URL from Connections → AI assistants). Authentication: OAuth.
4. Confirm the trust checkbox, create the app, and complete CapturedIt sign-in.
5. Install the plugin if offered, start a new chat (or Work), and ask: “What's the last thing I saved in CapturedIt?”

Other ChatGPT / OpenAI options

• Personal MCP app (above) — best for individual Vault users.
• Packaged plugin — developers can package skills + our MCP server for the Plugins directory (same server URL under the hood).
• API Playground — Tools → Add → MCP Server for raw request/response testing.
• Legacy Custom GPT Actions — OpenAPI + API key still works while Custom GPTs remain available, but OpenAI is retiring that path; prefer MCP.

Step-by-step in-product: Dashboard → Connections → AI assistants → Connect ChatGPT.

Setting up Claude integration

Option A: Claude.ai (web)

1. In Claude.ai: Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector.
2. Enter URL: https://mcp.capturedit.app/api/mcp (or your dashboard MCP URL).
3. Sign in with your CapturedIt account when prompted.
4. Ask Claude to search your library or get context.

Option B: Claude Desktop

1. Open Claude Desktop settings
2. Add a remote connector / MCP server
3. Use the CapturedIt MCP server URL: https://mcp.capturedit.app/api/mcp
4. Sign in when prompted, then ask about your library

Setting up Cursor integration

Cursor supports MCP for chat and agent workflows. Use remote MCP with OAuth, or a local MCP server with an API key — see Connections → Connect Cursor for the current steps.

1. Open Cursor settings → MCP / Features
2. Add server URL: https://mcp.capturedit.app/api/mcp (or follow the Connect Cursor wizard)
3. Complete OAuth or paste your CapturedIt API key as directed
4. Ask: “Search my library for how I handled CORS in Next.js”

Example queries to try

Security and privacy

Your data remains yours. MCP connections use OAuth (or an API key you control) and authenticate securely. CapturedIt never trains AI models on your content, and you can revoke access anytime from Connections → MCP OAuth connections or Security.

Conclusion

Connecting your knowledge base to AI assistants transforms how you work. Instead of static bookmarks you occasionally revisit, you have an active research partner that knows everything you have saved and can help you synthesize, compare, and create.