MCP Apps

An MCP App represents one AI client connected to MCPGate. Each app gets its own API key, its own set of enabled tools, and its own guardrail policy. Apps are how you give different AI clients different levels of access to your connected services.

Why multiple apps?

You might give Claude Desktop read-only Gmail while Cursor gets full GitHub access with branch protection rules. Each app is isolated — one client can't see or use another's tools.

What is an MCP App?#

Think of an app as a scoped view of your connected services. When you create an app, you choose which connector tools to expose and optionally configure guardrails on top. The app then generates a single MCP endpoint URL you paste into your AI client.

  • Dedicated API key — each app has a unique mgw_ key.
  • Tool access control — enable only the tools the client needs.
  • Guardrail policy — per-app allow/deny rules on tool parameters.
  • Activity log — every tool call is recorded per-app for audit.
MCP Apps list showing multiple connected AI clients
The Apps list. Each row is one AI client with its own key and status.

Creating an app#

1

Open the Apps page

Navigate to Apps in the MCPGate dashboard sidebar.
2

Click New App

Click the New App button in the top right. Enter a descriptive name for the client — for example Claude Desktop or Cursor Work.
3

Copy your API key

After creation, MCPGate displays your mgw_ API key once. Copy it immediately — it cannot be shown again. You can regenerate it later from the app settings if needed.
New App dialog showing the API key reveal
4

Paste the MCP URL into your client

Use the URL shown on the app overview page. The format is:
https://api.mcpgate.sh/mcp/mgw_yourkey
Paste this as the MCP server URL in your AI client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.).

App overview#

The app overview page shows the app's status, endpoint URL, a redacted API key (click to reveal last 4 characters), and quick links to the tools and guardrails tabs.

App overview page showing status, endpoint, and navigation tabs
App overview — status indicator, endpoint URL, and tab navigation.

Managing tool access#

The Tools tab lists every tool from all connected connectors. Toggle tools on or off to control exactly what this app can do. Changes take effect immediately — no restart or re-deploy required.

App tools tab showing toggles for individual tools
Tool access per app. Green = enabled, grey = disabled.

Start minimal

Enable only the tools the AI client actually needs. You can always add more later. This reduces the surface area for unexpected behaviour.

Guardrails#

The Guardrails tab lets you attach rule templates to individual tools. Rules are evaluated on every tool call before the API request is made. See the Guardrails Overview for full details.

Deleting an app#

Open the app settings (gear icon) and click Delete App. This immediately invalidates the app's API key and removes all guardrail rules. The connected connectors are unaffected — only this app's access is revoked.