# Integrations & MCP

> Connect Poly to AI assistants and code editors with the local CLI first, then set up an MCP integration.

Poly integrates with the AI tools and editors you already use so they can search your storage, read file contents, and organize files on your behalf. **Try installing the Poly CLI first if you can, then set up your tool's MCP integration.** The local CLI works with the Poly desktop app's cache for fast, offline-capable access and supports local sync-folder paths.

## 1. Install the CLI first

On macOS, install and open the [Poly desktop app](/getting-started/installation). In the system menu bar, open **Downloads**, then click **Install CLI**. See the [CLI documentation](/cli) for more details.

**Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, and ChatGPT Work users should all try installing the CLI first.** These tools can use the local `poly` command to work with your files. Once the CLI is installed, continue with your tool's integration setup below.

## 2. Set up the MCP integration

The **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** lets compatible AI assistants connect to Poly. If you can't install the CLI, you can still connect through the hosted MCP server.

- **Agent plugins** — [withpoly/polycc](https://github.com/withpoly/polycc) packages Poly for Claude Code, [withpoly/polycodex](https://github.com/withpoly/polycodex) packages Poly for Codex, and [withpoly/polyhermes](https://github.com/withpoly/polyhermes) packages Poly for Hermes. Each includes session-start memory, the `poly-cli` skill, and MCP. [withpoly/polymcp](https://github.com/withpoly/polymcp) supports other MCP clients.
- **The hosted MCP server** — MCP clients can connect to `https://mcp.poly.app/mcp` (streamable HTTP). Authentication is OAuth: a browser window signs you into Poly on first connection. There are no API keys to generate or manage.

## Available integrations

- [Claude Code](/integrations/claude-code) — install the CLI first, then the Poly for Claude Code plugin
- [Codex](/integrations/codex) — install the CLI first, then Poly for Codex
- [Hermes](/integrations/hermes) — install the CLI first, then Poly for Hermes
- [Claude CoWork (Desktop)](/integrations/claude-cowork) — one-click extension installed from the Poly desktop app
- [ChatGPT Work (Desktop)](/integrations/chatgpt-work) — install the CLI first, then set up the Poly agent plugin
- [ChatGPT](/integrations/chatgpt) — the hosted MCP server as a web connector
- [Gemini](/integrations/gemini) — Gemini CLI extension and other Google AI tools
- [VS Code & Cursor](/integrations/vscode-cursor) — MCP config for coding with your files

Then read [Using MCP](/integrations/using-mcp) — what the `search`, `fetch`, and `cli` tools do, and how to troubleshoot an agent that's misbehaving.

## Safety

Integrations can never permanently delete your files: destructive commands are stripped of their force option, so removals archive instead of delete, and anything an agent removes is recoverable — see [Recovering Files](/recovering-files).