Connect your agent

Connect Clam to Claude Code

One terminal command adds your Shell to Claude Code. Sign in to Clam, click Allow, and Claude Code can use your Gmail only as far as the Shell's rules allow. No Shell yet? Start with the Quickstart.

Claude Code talks to Clam over MCP, the standard way an AI agent plugs in an outside tool. Each Shell is its own MCP server, so a second Shell installs beside the first.

Connect Claude Code

Three ways in. Start with the first; the others are for when it doesn't fit.

Recommended

The simplest path: one command, and Claude Code opens your browser to sign in. Pick this unless your machine has no browser. Already added Clam to Claude with the same account? Run /mcp first. It may be listed already.

Paste this in your terminal

On the Shell's Install tab, pick Claude Code and copy the command under Sign in from the terminal. It has your server name and address filled in. Then press Enter.
Terminal
```
claude mcp add --transport http <server name> <your Shell's address>
```
Open Claude Code and run /mcp

Run /mcp, then pick your server in the list.
Sign in to Clam and Allow

Your browser opens on Clam, asking to connect your Shell to Claude Code. Its window is titled "Let Claude use a Shell". Sign in if you need to, then click Allow.

Then click Check connection on the Install tab.

For a machine with no browser, like a server you reach over SSH. The key works only for Claude Code, and you see it once.

Paste this in your terminal

Copy the command under Use a key on the Install tab. Copying creates the key and fills it in. Then press Enter.
Terminal
```
claude mcp add --transport http <server name> <your Shell's address> --header "Authorization: Bearer <your key>"
```
Open Claude Code and run /mcp

Run /mcp. You should see your server in the list.

Then click Check connection on the Install tab.

To keep Clam in the project's own file, so everyone who opens the project gets it. Each person still signs in to Clam themselves.

Add this block to .mcp.json

The file sits in your project root, under mcpServers. Create it if it isn't there. Keep the type line, or Claude Code ignores the server.
JSON
```
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "<server name>": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "<your Shell's address>"
    }
  }
}
```
Open Claude Code and run /mcp

Run /mcp, then pick your server in the list.
Sign in to Clam and Allow

Your browser opens on Clam, asking to connect your Shell to Claude Code. Its window is titled "Let Claude use a Shell". Sign in if you need to, then click Allow.

Then click Check connection on the Install tab.

Try it

With the starter policy from the Quickstart, ask Claude Code:

If Claude Code holds other mail tools, name the Shell in the prompt.

Remove access

Run claude mcp remove <server name>, or delete the entry from .mcp.json. That only tidies Claude Code. Clam's removal is the one that counts: on the Install tab, under Connected agents, click Remove access for Claude Code. A sign-in stops at its next request; a key at once. More in Remove access.

Next steps

Not in the /mcp list, paused, or lost access? Common issues & solutions
Write your own rules
Have Claude Code ask before it acts