Claude Code can connect to the apps and services you already use — Gmail, Slack, databases, file storage, and more. These connections use something called MCP (Model Context Protocol), but you don't need to understand the technical details. Just think of it as “plugging Claude into your tools.”

What this means for you

Instead of copying and pasting between apps, you can tell Claude “check my email for invoices” or “send a message in Slack” and it handles the rest. Claude becomes a single place to manage your tools.

What Can You Connect?

Email & Communication

Tool	What Claude Can Do	How to Connect
Gmail	Search emails, read messages, draft replies	Built into claude.ai (just enable it)
Slack	Send messages, read channels, search conversations	Add the Slack connection

Data & Spreadsheets

Tool	What Claude Can Do	How to Connect
Databases	Query your data, generate reports, find patterns	Add database connection
Files & Folders	Read, organize, and process your documents	Add filesystem connection
Stripe	Check payments, look up customers, review transactions	Add Stripe connection

Project Management & Productivity

Tool	What Claude Can Do	How to Connect
GitHub	Manage code, create issues, review changes	Add GitHub connection
Linear	Create tasks, track progress, update projects	Built into claude.ai

Websites & Infrastructure

Tool	What Claude Can Do	How to Connect
Vercel	Deploy websites, check status, view logs	Built into claude.ai
Cloudflare	Manage domains, DNS, and website settings	Built into claude.ai
Web Search	Search the internet for current information	Add search connection

How to Connect a Tool

Option 1: Built-In Connections (Easiest)

Some tools are already available in claude.ai — you just need to enable them. Gmail, Linear, Vercel, and Cloudflare are all built-in. Just look for them in your Claude settings.

Option 2: Add a Connection Using the Menu

Inside Claude Code, type:

/mcp

This opens a menu where you can browse and add available connections.

Option 3: Add a Connection From the Command Line

claude mcp add gmail # Connect Gmail claude mcp add slack # Connect Slack claude mcp list # See what's connected claude mcp remove slack # Disconnect a tool

What this means for you

You only need to set up a connection once. After that, Claude remembers it and can use that tool whenever you ask.

Using Your Connected Tools

Once a tool is connected, you just talk to Claude naturally. You don't need to use special commands or syntax — Claude figures out which tool to use based on what you ask.

Real-Life Examples

> Check my email for any messages from my accountant this week > Send a Slack message to the #team channel: "Meeting moved to 3pm" > How many customers signed up this month? (uses your database) > Look up recent payments over $500 (uses Stripe) > Find all files in my Documents folder related to "taxes" > Search the web for the latest small business tax deadlines

Good to know

Claude will always ask your permission before taking an action like sending a message or modifying data. It won't do anything without your approval.

Real-World Scenarios

Small Business Owner

Connect: Gmail + Stripe + your customer database

• “Show me all customers who haven't paid their invoice this month”
• “Draft a follow-up email to each of them”
• “How does this month's revenue compare to last month?”

Student or Researcher

Connect: Files + Web Search

• “Find all my notes about the French Revolution”
• “Search the web for recent papers on this topic”
• “Organize my research files by topic”

Team Lead

Connect: Slack + Linear + GitHub

• “What tasks are overdue this sprint?”
• “Post a status update to #engineering with this week's progress”
• “Create a new task for the login bug Sarah reported”

Freelancer

Connect: Gmail + Stripe + Files

• “Find all emails from clients I haven't responded to”
• “How much have I earned this quarter?”
• “Organize my project files by client name”

Keeping Your Connections Safe

A few important things to know about security:

• Your passwords and tokens stay on your computer— Claude never sees or stores your actual passwords.
• You control what Claude can access— each connection has specific permissions. Claude can only do what you allow.
• You can disconnect anytime — use claude mcp remove [tool] to revoke access instantly.
• Claude asks before acting— it won't send emails, post messages, or modify data without your explicit approval.

Where Are Your Connections Stored?

Connections are saved in simple settings files. You have two options:

Location	What It's For
Project-level (.mcp.json in your project folder)	Connections used for a specific project
Global (~/.claude.json)	Connections available everywhere (like Gmail)

Tips

• Start with one connection— try Gmail or your file system first to get comfortable.
• Use /mcp to manage connections— it's the easiest way to see what's connected and add new tools.
• You don't need all connections— only connect the tools you actually use. You can always add more later.
• Built-in connections are the easiest— Gmail, Linear, Vercel, and Cloudflare work out of the box on claude.ai.
• Ask naturally— you don't need special commands. Just describe what you want to do and Claude will use the right tool.