--- title: "Create and manage MCP keys" description: "MCP keys let an AI assistant query your Talkspirit data through the Model Context Protocol server. You create and revoke them in your account, under MCP keys, and choose whether each key is read only or read and write." category: integrations section: api-and-webhooks type: Tutorial lastUpdated: 2026-09-17 locale: en canonical: https://support.talkspirit.com/en/integrations/create-and-manage-mcp-keys --- # Create and manage MCP keys An MCP key is a personal API key that lets an AI assistant, such as Claude, query your Talkspirit data through the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. You create and manage your own keys in your account, under **MCP keys**. Each key acts as you: the assistant sees exactly what your permissions allow, and nothing more. A key is read only by default, and can be granted read and write access instead. ## Before you start Any member can create MCP keys. You do not need administrator rights, because a key is personal and scoped to your own account. A key never widens your access. When an assistant connects with your key, Talkspirit exchanges it for your own identity, so every request runs with your permissions. A read-only key lets the assistant read your content but make no changes. A read-and-write key lets it read your content and act on your behalf. ## Create an MCP key 1. Open **Account**, then **MCP keys**. 2. Select **Add MCP key**. 3. Enter a **Name** that identifies the key, for example the tool it is for. 4. Under **Permissions**, choose **Read only** or **Read and write**. Read only is selected by default. 5. Under **Expiration**, choose **Never**, **30 days**, **90 days**, or **1 year**. New keys expire after 90 days unless you change this. 6. Select **Create Key**. 7. Copy the key value with **Copy**, then select **Done**. > **Warning:** The key value is shown once, at creation. Copy and store it securely before closing the dialog, because Talkspirit cannot show it again. If you lose it, delete the key and create a new one. ![The Create MCP key dialog open over the MCP keys page, with the Name field, the Read only and Read and write permission options, and Expiration set to 90 days](/images/integrations/create-and-manage-mcp-keys/01-create-mcp-key-dialog.png) The new key appears in the list with its name, a shortened key prefix, its status, when it was last used, and when it was created. ## Connect your AI assistant The **MCP keys** page shows a ready-made command that connects Claude Code to Talkspirit with your key: ``` claude mcp add --transport http talkspirit https://mcp.talkspirit.com/mcp \ --header "X-API-Key: tsk_" ``` Any MCP-compatible client connects the same way: point it at the Talkspirit MCP server and send your key in the `X-API-Key` request header. Select **Copy command** to copy the snippet, and replace the placeholder with the key you copied at creation. If you use Claude in a browser or the desktop app, you do not need a key at all: you can sign in instead. [Connecting Claude and other AI assistants to Talkspirit](/en/integrations/connect-claude-and-other-ai-assistants) covers every connection method and how to troubleshoot a connection. ### What the assistant can access Reading your content requires a read-only or a read-and-write key; creating or updating anything requires a read-and-write key. Every operation stays bounded by your own permissions: the key grants the assistant no access you do not already have. [What the Talkspirit MCP server can do](/en/integrations/what-the-mcp-server-can-do) lists what the assistant reads, creates, changes and removes. ## Revoke an MCP key 1. Open **Account**, then **MCP keys**. 2. Select the actions menu on the key's row, then **Delete**. 3. Confirm with **Delete** in the dialog. Deleting a key takes effect immediately and cannot be undone. Any assistant still configured with that key loses access at once, so revoke a key as soon as you suspect it is exposed. ## Next steps - [The Talkspirit Partner API](/en/integrations/partner-api) - [Manage API keys as an administrator](/en/integrations/manage-api-tokens-as-an-admin) - [How Spark processes your organisation's data](/en/administration-security/how-ai-processes-your-data)