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The MCP Inspector provides extensive configuration options for connecting to MCP servers, including connection types, transport protocols, timeouts, OAuth authentication, and custom headers.

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Connection Types

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Direct Connection

Connect directly to the MCP server without a proxy. This is the default and recommended option for most use cases. When to use:
  • Local development servers
  • Servers accessible from your network
  • Servers with public endpoints

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Via Proxy

Connect through a proxy server. Useful when you need to route traffic through an intermediary or when direct connections are blocked. When to use:
  • Corporate networks with proxy requirements
  • CORS restrictions
  • Testing proxy configurations
  • Development environments with proxy setup

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Auto-Switch

The inspector can automatically try both connection types if one fails. Enable this in the connection settings:
  1. Open the Connection Type dropdown
  2. Toggle Auto-switch on
  3. If Direct connection fails, the inspector will automatically try Via Proxy (and vice versa)
Auto-switch is skipped for authentication errors (401, Unauthorized) since both connection types will fail the same way.

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Advanced Configuration

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Request Timeout

Maximum time (in milliseconds) to wait for a single request to complete. Default: 10000 (10 seconds)

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Maximum Total Timeout

Maximum total time (in milliseconds) for the entire operation, including retries and progress updates. Default: 60000 (60 seconds)

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Inspector Proxy Address

The proxy endpoint URL when using “Via Proxy” connection type. Default: ${window.location.origin}/inspector/api/proxy

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OAuth Configuration

The inspector supports OAuth 2.0 authentication for MCP servers that require it.

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Setting Up OAuth

  1. Click the Authentication button in the connection form
  2. Enter your OAuth credentials:
    • Client ID: Your OAuth application client ID
    • Redirect URL: The callback URL (defaults to /inspector/oauth/callback)
    • Scope: Space-separated list of OAuth scopes
  3. Click Save to store the configuration

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OAuth Flow

When connecting to a server that requires OAuth:
  1. Initial Connection: Inspector attempts to connect
  2. Authorization Request: Server responds with authorization URL
  3. User Approval: You’re redirected to the OAuth provider
  4. Callback Handling: Inspector handles the OAuth callback automatically
  5. Token Storage: Access tokens are stored securely in browser localStorage
  6. Connection Established: Server appears in Connected Servers list

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Authentication States

The inspector shows different states during OAuth:
  • Connecting: Initial connection attempt
  • Pending Auth: Waiting for OAuth approval
  • Authenticating: OAuth flow in progress
  • Ready: Successfully authenticated and connected
  • Failed: Authentication or connection failed

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Manual Authentication

If automatic OAuth redirect doesn’t work:
  1. Look for the Authenticate button in the server card
  2. Click to open the OAuth page in a new tab
  3. Complete the authorization
  4. Return to the inspector - it will detect the completed auth

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Custom Headers

Add custom HTTP headers to all requests sent to the MCP server.

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Adding Headers

  1. Click Custom Headers in the connection form
  2. Click Add to create a new header
  3. Enter the header name and value
  4. Click Save

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Common Use Cases

  • API Keys: Authorization: Bearer <token>
  • Custom Authentication: X-API-Key: <key>
  • Version Headers: X-API-Version: v2
  • Request IDs: X-Request-ID: <uuid>

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Security Considerations

Custom headers are stored in browser localStorage. Never include sensitive credentials that shouldn’t be stored locally. Use OAuth for secure authentication instead.

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Header Visibility

Header values are masked by default for security. Click the eye icon to reveal the value when needed.

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Configuration Import/Export

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Copy Configuration

Export your connection configuration as JSON:
  1. Fill in your connection settings
  2. Click Copy Config button
  3. The configuration is copied to your clipboard as JSON
Example configuration: 
{
  "url": "https://mcp.example.com/mcp",
  "transportType": "http",
  "connectionType": "Direct",
  "customHeaders": {
    "Authorization": "Bearer token123"
  },
  "requestTimeout": 10000,
  "resetTimeoutOnProgress": true,
  "maxTotalTimeout": 60000,
  "oauth": {
    "clientId": "your-client-id",
    "redirectUrl": "http://localhost:8080/inspector/oauth/callback",
    "scope": "read write"
  }
}

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Paste Configuration

Import a connection configuration from JSON:
  1. Copy a configuration JSON (from another inspector instance or saved file)
  2. Paste it into the URL field
  3. The form automatically populates with all settings
The paste detection only works when pasting into the URL field. The inspector recognizes valid JSON configuration and populates the form automatically.

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Sharing Configurations

You can share connection configurations with team members:
  1. Export your configuration (Copy Config)
  2. Share the JSON via secure channel
  3. Recipients paste into their inspector
  4. All settings are automatically applied
Never share configurations containing sensitive credentials. Remove OAuth tokens, API keys, and other secrets before sharing.

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Connection Status Indicators

The inspector shows visual indicators for connection status:
  • 🟢 Green: Connected and ready
  • 🟡 Yellow: Connecting or authenticating
  • 🔴 Red: Connection failed
  • ⚪ Gray: Disconnected
Hover over the indicator to see detailed status information.