---
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"
---

# 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

Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "scholarxiv": {
      "url": "https://www.scholarxiv.com/api/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "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 33 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 |
| "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 33 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).