Custom MCP

The MCP Marketplace offers thousands of ready-to-use integrations, but sometimes you need to connect a private API, an internal company tool, or a custom MCP server you've built yourself. Custom MCP lets you add any MCP-compatible server directly to LobeHub without going through the marketplace.

Where to Add a Custom MCP

You can open the "Add custom skill" dialog from several places:

Settings → Skills — click Skill Store, then switch to the Custom tab and click Add custom skill
Agent settings — open any agent's settings, go to Skills, and click Add custom skill
Chat input — click the Tools button above the input area, then Add custom skill

All three paths open the same configuration dialog.

Quick Import from JSON

The fastest way to add a custom MCP is to paste a JSON config from the MCP server's documentation.

<Steps> ### Open the import panel

In the "Add custom skill" dialog, click Import JSON config at the top of the form. A text area will appear.

Paste your config

Paste either a full mcpServers block or a single-server config:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "my-mcp-package"],
      "type": "stdio"
    }
  }
}

Or for an HTTP server:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-api": {
      "url": "https://mcp.example.com/sse",
      "type": "http"
    }
  }
}

Click Import

LobeHub automatically fills in the identifier, connection type, URL or command, and any other detected parameters. Review the auto-filled fields, adjust if needed, then proceed to test the connection. </Steps>

<Callout type={'info'}>Most MCP server documentation provides a ready-to-copy JSON config in this format. Quick Import is the recommended starting point.</Callout>

Manual Configuration

If you prefer to enter settings by hand, choose a connection type and fill in the fields directly.

Streamable HTTP

Use this for remote MCP servers — cloud-hosted APIs, SaaS tools, or any server accessible via HTTPS. Available on both web and desktop.

Field	Description
MCP name	A unique identifier for this skill (letters, numbers, hyphens only)
Endpoint URL	The full HTTPS URL of the MCP server (e.g. `https://mcp.example.com/sse`)
Auth type	None, or API Key (sent as a Bearer token)
API Key	Required when Auth type is set to API Key
HTTP Headers	Optional additional headers (expand Advanced section)
Description	Optional note about what this MCP does

STDIO

Use this for local MCP servers that run as a process on your machine — command-line tools, scripts, or locally installed packages. Available on the LobeHub desktop app only; not supported on the web.

Field	Description
MCP name	A unique identifier for this skill
Command	The executable to run (e.g. `npx`, `python`, `uv`)
Arguments	Arguments passed to the command (e.g. `-y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github`)
Environment variables	Key-value pairs injected into the process environment (API keys, paths, etc.)
Description	Optional note about what this MCP does

Testing the Connection

Before saving, click Test connection to verify that LobeHub can reach your MCP server and fetch its tool list. If the test succeeds, you'll see the available tools listed in the preview panel on the right.

If the test fails:

HTTP: Check that the URL is correct and reachable, and that your API key or headers are set correctly.
STDIO: Confirm the command is installed and available in your system PATH. Run which npx (or the relevant command) in a terminal to check.

Saving and Managing

Click Install to add the custom MCP as a skill. It will appear under Custom MCPs in Settings → Skills.

To edit a custom MCP later:

Go to Settings → Skills
Find the custom skill under Custom MCPs
Click Configure to reopen the full configuration dialog
Make your changes, test the connection, and click Update

To remove it, open the skill's menu and select Uninstall.

Enabling Custom MCP for an Agent

Installing a custom MCP makes it available in your workspace, but each agent needs to be configured to use it:

Open the agent's settings
Go to Skills
Find the custom MCP and toggle it on
The agent will now have access to all tools provided by that MCP server

Skills are per-agent — enabling a skill for one agent doesn't automatically enable it for others.

<Callout type={'info'}>Only install MCP servers from sources you trust. A malicious MCP server could perform unintended actions on your behalf.</Callout>