---
title: "Quick Start"
description: "Go from zero to your first ScholarXIV MCP tool call in 5 minutes."
canonical_url: "https://scholarxiv.com/developers/docs/mcp/quickstart"
markdown_url: "https://scholarxiv.com/developers/docs/mcp/quickstart.md"
---

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

# Quick Start
URL: /developers/docs/mcp/quickstart
LLM index: /llms.txt
Description: Go from zero to your first ScholarXIV MCP tool call in 5 minutes.
Related: mcp, mcp/connect, mcp/clients

# Quick Start

Get connected to the ScholarXIV MCP server in 5 minutes.

## Step 1: Get an API Key

1. Log in at [scholarxiv.com](https://scholarxiv.com)
2. Go to the [Developer Dashboard](/developers/dashboard)
3. Click **Create API Key**
4. Name it, choose an expiration, and click Create
5. **Copy the key immediately** — it's shown only once

Your key starts with `sxv_` (e.g. `sxv_abc123...`).

## Step 2: Pick Your Client

The ScholarXIV MCP server works with any MCP-compatible client. Choose one:

| Client            | Type        | Platform              |
| ----------------- | ----------- | --------------------- |
| opencode          | CLI         | macOS, Linux          |
| Codex             | CLI         | macOS, Linux          |
| Claude Desktop    | Desktop app | macOS, Windows        |
| Claude Code       | CLI         | macOS, Linux          |
| Cursor            | IDE         | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| VS Code / Copilot | Extension   | macOS, Windows, Linux |

## Step 3: Add the Config

### Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop only supports stdio transport, so we bridge with `mcp-remote`. Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows):

```json
{
	"mcpServers": {
		"scholarxiv": {
			"command": "npx",
			"args": [
				"-y",
				"mcp-remote",
				"https://www.scholarxiv.com/api/mcp",
				"--header",
				"Authorization: Bearer sxv_your_api_key_here"
			]
		}
	}
}
```

### Cursor

Add to your settings or `.cursor/mcp.json`:

```json
{
	"mcp": {
		"scholarxiv": {
			"type": "url",
			"url": "https://www.scholarxiv.com/api/mcp",
			"headers": {
				"Authorization": "Bearer sxv_your_api_key_here"
			}
		}
	}
}
```

### Claude Code

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http scholarxiv https://www.scholarxiv.com/api/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer sxv_your_api_key_here"
```

### opencode

Add to `opencode.json` in your project root:

```json
{
	"mcp": {
		"scholarxiv": {
			"type": "remote",
			"url": "https://www.scholarxiv.com/api/mcp",
			"headers": {
				"Authorization": "Bearer sxv_your_api_key_here"
			}
		}
	}
}
```

See the [Client Configuration](/developers/docs/mcp/clients) page for all clients.

## Step 4: Test It

Restart your MCP client, then ask your AI agent:

> Search for recent papers on large language models and show me the top 3

The agent should call the `search_papers` tool and return paper titles, authors, and abstracts.

## Step 5: Try More

Once search works, try these:

- _"Bookmark the first paper"_ → uses `bookmark_paper`
- _"Create a collection called 'LLM Research'"_ → uses `create_collection`
- _"Add these papers to my collection"_ → uses `add_paper_to_collection`
- _"What papers have I bookmarked?"_ → uses `get_bookmarked_papers`

See the [Tool Catalog](/developers/docs/mcp/tools) for all 36 tools.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                                                | Solution                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Client doesn't show MCP tools                          | Restart the client after adding config                                   |
| "Invalid API key" error                                | Check the key starts with `sxv_` and hasn't expired                      |
| "Not valid MCP server configurations" (Claude Desktop) | Use the `mcp-remote` config — Claude Desktop requires stdio transport    |
| "Rate limit exceeded"                                  | Wait for the hourly window to reset, or upgrade your plan                |
| Connection timeout                                     | Check your network; the endpoint is `https://www.scholarxiv.com/api/mcp` |
| Tools not appearing                                    | Ensure the config JSON is valid (no trailing commas)                     |

## Next Steps

- [How to Connect](/developers/docs/mcp/connect) — endpoint and transport details
- [Client Configuration](/developers/docs/mcp/clients) — all client configs
- [Tool Catalog](/developers/docs/mcp/tools) — all 36 tools

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.
Docs-scoped sitemap: [/docs/sitemap.md](/docs/sitemap.md).
Well-known sitemap: [/.well-known/sitemap.md](/.well-known/sitemap.md).