GROK BOT / why-grok-bot-does-not-attach-local-mcp

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Why Grok Bot does not attach local MCP

Why Grok Bot does not attach local MCP

Grok Bot will not attach MCP servers that run on your own machine — stdio packages, localhost listeners, or tools such as Workflowy Local MCP. Staff (kevinn, Aug 13, 2026) stated the intended path on forum 168182: the Bot works from a persistent cloud computer, so processes on your laptop are unreachable from it.

What works today

Path Use when
Remote HTTP/SSE MCP or catalog connectors The server has a public URL Grok Bot can reach
Agent Computer browser The product only exists as a website (for example workflowy.com) and you sign in when the Bot asks you to take over
Cursor IDE local MCP You need stdio / localhost servers on the machine where Cursor runs

Add a public custom connector with Add a custom MCP connector on grok.com when you have a hosted endpoint. Site-only products without MCP follow Use Grok Bot on a website that has no connector.

Stdio paths on the Agent Computer

A stdio MCP installed inside the Agent Computer is a different failure mode from laptop-local MCP. Spawns that still point at a deleted per-bot secrets folder are covered in When stdio MCP points at deleted agent secrets.

Pitfalls

  • Installing an npm stdio MCP on your Mac and expecting Grok Bot Plugins to list it.
  • Treating Cursor IDE Connected status for a local server as proof Grok Bot can use the same config.