Unkey MCP (Model Context Protocol)

The Unkey Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers provide direct integration between AI tools and Unkey’s APIs. This allows you to interact with your Unkey workspace directly, enabling AI-powered API key management, rate limiting configuration, and analytics queries.

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that allows AI applications to securely access external data and services. Unkey’s MCP servers give Claude Desktop direct access to your Unkey APIs, enabling intelligent assistance with API key management and rate limiting.

Available MCP Servers

Unkey provides two MCP servers:

Unkey API MCP

Full access to Unkey’s API management capabilities

Unkey Ratelimiting MCP

Specialized server for rate limiting operations

Prerequisites

Unkey account created
Unkey root key with appropriate permissions
Node.js installed (for npx command)

Installation

Below is an example of using Unkey MCP with Claude but it can also be used with other AI applications.

Unkey API MCP

The main Unkey MCP server provides access to the complete Unkey API:

Open Claude Desktop Configuration Navigate to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
- Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Add the MCP Server Configuration Add the following configuration to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Unkey": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.unkey.com/mcp/v1",
        "--header",
        "MCP-UNKEY-BEARER-AUTH:${UNKEY_ROOT_KEY}"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Set Environment Variable Set your Unkey root key as an environment variable:

# macOS/Linux
export UNKEY_ROOT_KEY="unkey_xxx"

# Windows
set UNKEY_ROOT_KEY=unkey_xxx

Restart Claude Desktop Close and restart Claude Desktop to load the MCP server.

Unkey Ratelimiting MCP

For specialized rate limiting operations, use the dedicated ratelimiting MCP server:

Add Ratelimiting MCP Configuration Add this configuration to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "UnkeyRateLimiting": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.unkey.com/mcp/ratelimits/",
        "--header",
        "MCP-UNKEY-V2-ROOT-KEY:${UNKEY_ROOT_KEY}"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Use Both Servers You can configure both MCP servers simultaneously:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Unkey": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.unkey.com/mcp/v1",
        "--header",
        "MCP-UNKEY-BEARER-AUTH:${UNKEY_ROOT_KEY}"
      ]
    },
    "UnkeyRateLimiting": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.unkey.com/mcp/ratelimits/",
        "--header",
        "MCP-UNKEY-V2-ROOT-KEY:${UNKEY_ROOT_KEY}"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Getting Your Root Key

To use the MCP servers, you need a Unkey root key with appropriate permissions:

Navigate to Root Keys

Go to Settings > Root Keys in your Unkey dashboard.

Create New Root Key

Click “Create New Root Key” and select the permissions you need:

API Key Management: For creating, updating, and deleting API keys
Rate Limiting: For configuring rate limits
Analytics: For querying usage data

Copy and Secure Your Key

Copy your root key and store it securely. You’ll use this as your environment variable.

Using MCP with Claude Desktop

Once configured, you can interact with your Unkey workspace directly through Claude Desktop:

API Key Management

Ask Claude to help with API key operations:

Can you create a new API key for my mobile app with the following settings:
- Name: "Mobile App Production"
- Rate limit: 1000 requests per hour
- Expiration: 90 days from now
- Metadata: {"app": "mobile", "version": "1.0", "environment": "production"}

Ratelimiting Configuration

Configure rate limits through natural language:

I need to set up rate limiting for my API with these tiers:
- Free tier: 100 requests per hour
- Pro tier: 1000 requests per hour
- Enterprise tier: 10000 requests per hour

Can you help me configure these limits?

Analytics and Monitoring

Query your API usage data:

Show me the API usage statistics for the last 7 days, including:
- Total requests
- Top 5 API keys by usage
- Error rates
- Geographic distribution of requests

Troubleshooting

Get help with common issues:

I'm seeing 401 errors for API key verification. Can you help me debug this?
The API key is: uk_xxx
The API ID is: api_xxx

Available Commands

API Key Operations

Create API Key: Generate new API keys with custom settings
List API Keys: View all API keys in your workspace
Update API Key: Modify existing API key properties
Delete API Key: Remove API keys from your workspace
Verify API Key: Check if an API key is valid and active

Rate Limiting Operations

Configure Rate Limits: Set up rate limiting rules
Check Rate Limit Status: Monitor current rate limit usage
Update Rate Limits: Modify existing rate limit configurations
Delete Rate Limits: Remove rate limiting rules

Analytics and Monitoring

Usage Analytics: Query API usage statistics
Error Analysis: Investigate API errors and issues
Performance Metrics: Monitor API performance data
Usage Reports: Generate custom usage reports

Example Conversations

Creating an API Key

You: “Create a new API key for my development environment with a rate limit of 500 requests per hour and set it to expire in 30 days.” Claude: “I’ll create a new API key for your development environment with the specified settings. Let me use the Unkey MCP to create this key with a 500 requests/hour rate limit and 30-day expiration.”

Analyzing API Usage

You: “What are my top 3 API keys by usage this month?” Claude: “Let me query your Unkey analytics to find your top 3 API keys by usage this month. I’ll pull the usage data and provide you with detailed statistics.”

Debugging Issues

You: “I’m getting rate limit errors but I thought my limit was higher. Can you check my current rate limit configuration?” Claude: “I’ll check your current rate limit configuration using the Unkey MCP. Let me examine your rate limiting settings and current usage to help diagnose the issue.”

Security Best Practices

Environment Variables

Store your root key in environment variables, never in configuration files
Use different root keys for different environments (development, staging, production)
Regularly rotate your root keys

Permissions

Grant only the minimum required permissions to your root keys
Use separate root keys for different operations when possible
Monitor root key usage through audit logs

Access Control

Limit access to your Claude Desktop configuration
Use secure storage for your root keys
Implement proper backup and recovery procedures

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

MCP Server Not Loading
- Check that Node.js is installed and accessible
- Verify your configuration file syntax
- Ensure environment variables are set correctly
Authentication Errors
- Verify your root key is correct and has proper permissions
- Check that the environment variable is set
- Confirm your root key hasn’t expired
Connection Issues
- Ensure you have internet connectivity
- Check if your firewall is blocking connections
- Verify the MCP server URLs are correct

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

Check the Claude Desktop logs for error messages
Verify your configuration matches the examples exactly
Test your root key directly with the Unkey API
Join the Unkey Discord for community support

Advanced Configuration

Custom Environment Variables

You can use custom environment variable names:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Unkey": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.unkey.com/mcp/v1",
        "--header",
        "MCP-UNKEY-BEARER-AUTH:${MY_CUSTOM_UNKEY_KEY}"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Multiple Workspaces

Configure multiple Unkey workspaces:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "UnkeyProduction": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.unkey.com/mcp/v1",
        "--header",
        "MCP-UNKEY-BEARER-AUTH:${UNKEY_PROD_KEY}"
      ]
    },
    "UnkeyStaging": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.unkey.com/mcp/v1",
        "--header",
        "MCP-UNKEY-BEARER-AUTH:${UNKEY_STAGING_KEY}"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Next Steps

Explore Cursor with Unkey for IDE-based AI assistance
Check out Windsurf with Unkey for collaborative development

Unkey

Concepts

Features

Migrations

Unkey MCP (Model Context Protocol)

What is MCP?

Available MCP Servers

Unkey API MCP

Unkey Ratelimiting MCP

Prerequisites

Installation

Unkey API MCP

Unkey Ratelimiting MCP

Getting Your Root Key

Using MCP with Claude Desktop

API Key Management

Ratelimiting Configuration

Analytics and Monitoring

Troubleshooting

Available Commands

API Key Operations

Rate Limiting Operations

Analytics and Monitoring

Example Conversations

Creating an API Key

Analyzing API Usage

Debugging Issues

Security Best Practices

Environment Variables

Permissions

Access Control

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Getting Help

Advanced Configuration

Custom Environment Variables

Multiple Workspaces

Next Steps

Resources

Unkey

Concepts

Features

Migrations

​What is MCP?

​Available MCP Servers

Unkey API MCP

Unkey Ratelimiting MCP

​Prerequisites

​Installation

​Unkey API MCP

​Unkey Ratelimiting MCP

​Getting Your Root Key

​Using MCP with Claude Desktop

​API Key Management

​Ratelimiting Configuration

​Analytics and Monitoring

​Troubleshooting

​Available Commands

​API Key Operations

​Rate Limiting Operations

​Analytics and Monitoring

​Example Conversations

​Creating an API Key

​Analyzing API Usage

​Debugging Issues

​Security Best Practices

​Environment Variables

​Permissions

​Access Control

​Troubleshooting

​Common Issues

​Getting Help

​Advanced Configuration

​Custom Environment Variables

​Multiple Workspaces

​Next Steps

​Resources

What is MCP?

Available MCP Servers

Prerequisites

Installation

Unkey API MCP

Unkey Ratelimiting MCP

Getting Your Root Key

Using MCP with Claude Desktop

API Key Management

Ratelimiting Configuration

Analytics and Monitoring

Troubleshooting

Available Commands

API Key Operations

Rate Limiting Operations

Analytics and Monitoring

Example Conversations

Creating an API Key

Analyzing API Usage

Debugging Issues

Security Best Practices

Environment Variables

Permissions

Access Control

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Getting Help

Advanced Configuration

Custom Environment Variables

Multiple Workspaces

Next Steps

Resources