# Authentication

The Perceptis MCP server supports two authentication methods depending on your client.

## Option 1: SSO (claude.ai web UI)

When connecting through the claude.ai web UI, no API key is needed. Go to [claude.ai/customize/connectors](https://claude.ai/customize/connectors), add `https://app.perceptis.ai/mcp/v1`, and sign in with **Google** or **Microsoft** when prompted. If you do not already have a Perceptis account, one is created automatically on the free tier so you can start using the MCP tools immediately.

See the [quickstart](/perceptis-mcp-server/quickstart-slide.md) for the full step-by-step flow.

## Option 2: API key (CLI, desktop, and headless clients)

For Claude Desktop, Cursor, Claude Code CLI, and other clients, authenticate with a bearer API key.

## Create an API key

1. Open [Developer Settings](https://app.perceptis.ai/developer-settings) in Perceptis.
2. Create a new API key.
3. Copy the plaintext key — it is shown only once.

Keys look like:

```
sk-live-per-<random>
```

Store the key in a secret manager or environment variable. Do not commit it.

## Pass the key

Send the key as a bearer token in every request:

```
Authorization: Bearer sk-live-per-YOUR_KEY
```

Revoked or invalid keys receive `401`.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.perceptis.ai/perceptis-mcp-server/authentication.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.