---
title: "Setting up the Thrive MCP Server"
slug: "setting-up-the-thrive-mcp-server"
tags: ["AI Tool Integration", "THRIVE Setup", "User Management"]
updated: 2026-10-16T08:44:10Z
published: 2026-10-16T08:44:10Z
canonical: "docs.thrivelearning.com/setting-up-the-thrive-mcp-server"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.thrivelearning.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Setting up the Thrive MCP Server

This guide walks you through **connecting the** [**Thrive MCP Server**](/v1/docs/thrive-mcp-server) **to your AI tool of choice**. Once connected, you can manage content, users, skills, and more through natural conversation – no more clicking through admin screens.

It's just as powerful for your learners. Your users can ask their AI assistant to find the right course, surface content matched to their skills and goals, or simply tap into the knowledge in your portal – all in plain language, without hunting through menus.

Setup takes a few minutes and only needs to be done once per tool.

## **Who should do this?**

This is a one-time setup carried out by an administrator – typically your IT, platform, or AI admin – not something each end user does individually. You'll need admin permissions in your AI tool (Claude, Microsoft Copilot, or Gemini Enterprise) to add a connector. Once the admin has connected Thrive, it becomes available to your users; they simply sign in with their own Thrive account and start using it.

## Before You Start: Get Your Credentials

To connect, you'll need at least three things from Thrive:

- **Your MCP Server URL** – a unique web address for your platform, in the form `https://<your-mcp-server>/t/<your-tenant>/mcp`
- **A Client ID** – identifies your AI tool to Thrive
- **A Client Secret** – a password-like value that authorises the connection

**If you're not using Claude**, you'll also need two more URLs from Thrive:

- **An Authorization URL** – where your tool sends users to sign in
- **A Token URL** – where your tool exchanges the sign-in for a secure token

Claude discovers these two automatically from the MCP Server URL, so you only need them for Microsoft Copilot, Gemini Enterprise, and most other tools.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> To find your credentials and configuration details, from the Thrive menu, go to **Configure** > **AI features** > **MCP server**. For more information, see [MCP Server](/v1/docs/mcp-server#enabling-the-mcp-server).

> [!WARNING]
> Important:
> 
> Keep your Client Secret private - treat it like a password.

When you first connect, you'll be asked to log in through your normal Thrive sign-in page.

The AI tool never sees your password – it only receives a secure token after you've logged in, and you can revoke access at any time.

## Getting Set Up in Claude

You can connect from Claude on the web (claude.ai), the Claude desktop app, or Claude Code. The steps below cover claude.ai; the desktop app is almost identical.

1. Open [claude.ai](http://claude.ai) and sign in.
2. Click your profile in the bottom-left, then go to **Organization Settings > Connectors**.
3. Click **Add custom connector** and select **Web**. ![Dropdown menu showing options for adding types and categories in a user interface.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(825).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)
4. Give it a name (for example, *Thrive*).
5. Paste your **MCP Server URL** into the URL field. ![Form for adding a custom connector with fields for server URL and OAuth settings.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(826).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)
6. Expand **Advanced settings** and enter the **Client ID** and **Client Secret** from Thrive.
7. Click **Add**, then **Connect**.
8. A browser window opens to your Thrive sign-in page. Log in as you normally would.
9. Once you're returned to Claude, the connector shows as connected. Thrive's tools are now available in your conversations.

**To check it’s working:** ask Claude something like *“Do I have any assigned learning on Thrive*?”

## Getting Set Up in Microsoft Copilot

Thrive connects to Copilot as a custom connector/agent. Depending on your organisation, this may be set up by an administrator in Copilot Studio and then shared with your team.

1. Open Copilot Studio (or the Copilot connector setup area provided by your IT team).
2. Go to **Tools**.
3. Click on **New Tool** and select **Model Context Protocol**.
4. Enter a **Server Name**, **Server Description**, and set the **Server URL** to the **MCP URL** provided to you by Thrive. ![Form fields for server name, description, URL, and authentication options displayed on screen.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(827).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)
5. Select **OAuth 2.0** for Authentication, then **Manual**.
6. Enter the **Client ID** and **Client Secret** supplied by Thrive, along with the **Authorization URL**, **Token URL**, and **Refresh URL**.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> The **Refresh URL** should be the same value as the **Token URL**.
7. For **Scopes**, enter `email openid profile` – all lowercase, with single space between each value.
8. Save the tool.
9. Go to **Agents**, and create a new Agent.
10. Find the **Tools** section, and select **Add tool**.

![Tools section for adding AI capabilities to enhance user engagement and productivity.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(828).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)
11. Find the tool you just created with its name, then add it.
12. You will be asked to create a connection, and login to Thrive as part of this.
13. Once you go through the login flow, your agent should be ready to use.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> Microsoft Copilot's connector setup varies by licence and admin configuration. If you don't see the options above, your IT team or Thrive contact can help complete the setup.

**To check it's working:** ask your Copilot Agent something like *"Do I have any assigned learning on Thrive?"*

## Getting Set Up in Slack

Slack's Slackbot can connect directly to Thrive's MCP, letting users chat with Slackbot to find content and take action in Thrive without leaving Slack.

Before connecting, your organisation must have Slack whitelisted for MCP access with Thrive – contact your Account Director to arrange this. You'll also need a Slack Business+ plan with the Slackbot AI add-on, or a Slack Enterprise plan, and your Slack admin may need to approve the connection through Slack's admin console.

Once whitelisted, users connect by opening a DM with Slackbot, clicking the Apps button, and adding Thrive from the list of suggested apps.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> For full setup details, see [Connecting an MCP server to the Slackbot MCP Client](https://docs.slack.dev/ai/slackbot-mcp-client/) in Slack developer docs.

## Getting Set Up in Gemini Enterprise

Thrive connects to Gemini Enterprise as an MCP tool/data source within your agent configuration.

1. Open your **Gemini Enterprise** [admin area](https://console.cloud.google.com/gemini-enterprise).
2. Click on **Data Stores** and choose to **Create data store**.

![Interface showing no data stores available and option to create a new data store.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(829).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)
3. Select **Custom MCP Server preview**.
4. Enter all the URLs and credentials as provided by Thrive.
5. For Scopes, set `email openid profile` - all lowercase, single space between them.
6. Do *not* check "Enable PKCE Support".
7. You'll be taken to your Thrive sign-in page. Log in as normal.
8. Once the Data Stores is connected to your app, you will be able to ask questions about Thrive through your Gemini Enterprise chat interface.

**To check it's working:** ask your Gemini Enterprise app something like *"Do I have any assigned learning on Thrive?"*

## Getting Set Up in ChatGPT

Thrive connects to ChatGPT as a custom MCP connector. This requires **Developer mode**, which you'll need to turn on before you can add Thrive.

1. Open ChatGPT and go to **Settings** > **Security and login**.
2. Enable **Developer mode**.
3. Go to **Settings** > **Connectors**.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> If you can't find this setting, custom connectors may not be available on your ChatGPT plan.
4. Click the **+** icon in the top-right corner to add a new MCP server.
5. Enter your MCP Server URL in the **Connection** field.
6. For **Authentication**, select **OAuth**.
7. Select **I understand and want to continue**.
8. Click **Advanced OAuth settings**.
9. Enter the Client ID and Client Secret from Thrive, then save the connector.
10. Find Thrive in your list of connectors, then click the three dots (**⋯**) next to it and select **Manage**.

![Thrive app interface showing options to manage or uninstall the application.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(906).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)
11. Click **Connect**.
12. In the **Add Thrive to ChatGPT** modal, click **Sign in with Thrive**.

![Prompt to add Thrive integration with ChatGPT, including permissions and data usage information.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(907).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)
13. A browser window opens to your Thrive sign-in page. Log in as you normally would.

Once you're returned to ChatGPT, the connector shows as connected.

To check it's working: click **Try in chat** and ask something like "What are my assignments?"

![Two overdue assignments listed in Thrive with due dates and descriptions.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(908).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A32Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J%2B2EM4kuiHgHDGUYG2rw2cdP0wmbWzP3ffywrJWBGd8%3D)

## Troubleshooting

****Login fails or you're not redirected back****

Your tool's redirect URL may not be registered with Thrive yet. Share the redirect URL shown during setup with your Thrive contact.

****Connection drops after about an hour****

This usually resolves itself as your access automatically renews. If it keeps disconnecting, contact Thrive.

****Anything else****

Reach out to your Thrive contact with the name of the tool you're connecting and a description of what you're seeing.

Any learning material in Thrive, including courses, quizzes, videos, documents, external links, and user-generated resources. Content serves to educate, engage, and assess learners, supporting a wide range of learning experiences across the platform.

Tags applied to content helping users personalise their learning experience and discover relevant development opportunities, either by personal choice or assignment.