Lesson 08

Connecting your tools

Estimated time: 20 minutes

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Explain what connectors are and why they matter for your work with Claude
Navigate the connectors directory and set up your first connection
Use connected tools effectively in your conversations with Claude

What are connectors?

Key takeaways

Connectors transform Claude from an assistant into an informed collaborator by giving Claude access to the same tools, data, and context that you use every day. Instead of starting every conversation from scratch, Claude can work directly with your actual information.
Connectors allow Claude to read information and perform actions on your behalf. Depending on the connector and permissions you grant, Claude can search your files, retrieve documents, analyze data, create new content, update records, and execute tasks across your connected applications—all from within your conversation.
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) powers connectors. Think of MCP like USB-C for AI—a universal standard that allows Claude to connect to many different applications through a single, consistent interface. This open standard means developers can build connectors for any tool, and those connectors work seamlessly with Claude.
There are two types of connectors: web connectors and desktop extensions. Web connectors link Claude to cloud services like Google Drive, Notion, Slack, and Asana. Desktop extensions run locally on your computer through the Claude Desktop app, giving Claude access to local files and native applications.

Finding and connecting tools

Try it

Connect a source, ask for more

Below is a request Claude can already handle — everything it needs is in the words you typed. Nothing else is connected yet. Turn on a source and watch the request grow: each connection lets you ask for something that lives outside your message.

Your request to Claude

Draft a short status update on the budget project for my manager.

One sentence — that's a complete request. Claude drafts it from your words alone.

Turn a source on or off

Same request underneath the whole time. What changes is what you're able to ask it to draw on.

What each connection lets you ask for

Right now: only what's in your message. Turn a source on to add to it.

Anthropic maintains a directory of recommended connectors at claude.ai/directory. The directory is organized into two tabs:

Web: Cloud services and applications (Gmail, Notion, Slack, Asana, Linear, Stripe, and many more)
Desktop extensions: Local tools that run on your computer through the Claude Desktop app

To browse available connectors, you can also click the + button in the lower left of the chat window, then select Connectors.

Setting up a web connector

Here's how to connect a cloud service:

Find the connector: Navigate to claude.ai/directory, or click + > Connectors in any chat
Click Connect: Select the connector you want to add
Authenticate: You'll be redirected to the service's login page. Sign in with your existing credentials
Grant permissions: Review the specific permissions Claude is requesting, then authorize access
Test the connection: Return to Claude and try a simple request, like "Can you access my [tool name]?"

Once connected, Claude can search, read, and in some cases take actions within that service—depending on the permissions you've granted.

Desktop extensions

Desktop extensions require the Claude Desktop app rather than the web interface. These extensions let Claude interact with local applications, your file system, and native features on macOS or Windows.

Some desktop extensions include:

Local file access for reading and organizing documents
Browser control for automated web tasks
Native application integration (like Figma for design work)

To install a desktop extension:

Download and install the Claude Desktop app
Open the app and navigate to Settings > Extensions
Browse available extensions and click Install
Follow any additional setup steps specific to that extension

Using connectors in your work

Once you've connected your tools, Claude considers them when responding to your requests. Here are some practical ways to use connected tools:

Project management (Asana, Linear, Jira)

"What are my highest priority tasks due this week?"
"Create a new task for reviewing the Q4 budget proposal"
"Summarize the status of our product launch project"

Communication (Slack, Gmail)

"Find the email thread where we discussed the vendor contract"
"Draft a reply to the latest message in the #marketing channel"
"What did the team decide about the timeline in yesterday's discussion?"

Documentation (Notion, Google Drive, Confluence)

"Search our documentation for our brand voice guidelines"
"Summarize the meeting notes from last week's product review"
"What does our style guide say about using contractions?"

Business tools (Stripe, PayPal, Salesforce)

"Show me revenue trends for the past quarter"
"What's the status of the Acme Corp opportunity?"
"List recent transactions over $1,000"

Security and permissions

When you connect Claude to external services, you're granting it access to read—and sometimes modify—data within those services. Here are some important considerations:

Scoped access: Permissions are specific to what the connector needs and you can toggle individual permissions on and off within each application's menu.
Claude sees what you see: Claude can only access data you have access to. Connecting your work email doesn't give Claude access to your CEO's inbox—only your own.
Revocable at any time: You can disconnect a service through Claude's settings or through the third-party service's security settings. Just as with skills, you can also find or build custom connectors. Exercise the same caution — only install connectors from trusted sources.

Lesson reflection

Before moving on, consider:

Which of your daily work tools would be most valuable to connect to Claude?
What tasks currently require you to copy and paste information that connectors could handle automatically?
Are there workflows where combining data from multiple connected sources would save you significant time?

What's next

In the next lesson, you'll learn about Enterprise Search—a specialized feature for Claude for Work users that connects Claude to your organization's knowledge sources with custom prompts optimized for your company's context.

For more information on connectors and the Model Context Protocol, visit the Anthropic Help Center or explore the connector directory at claude.ai/directory.

Feedback

As you progress through the course, we'd love to hear from you about how you are using concepts from the course in your work and any feedback you may have. Share your feedback here.