Other AI tools: Connect a Custom AI Tool to Time Doctor

Note: The Time Doctor MCP is available on all Time Doctor subscription plans and can be accessed by Owners, Admins, and Managers. Access is read-only and follows the user's Time Doctor role. New to Time Doctor MCP? Start with Connect Time Doctor to Your AI Tools with Time Doctor MCP.

TL;DR:

Any AI tool that supports remote MCP connections can connect to Time Doctor. Add the Time Doctor server URL, select the sign-in option instead of a key, and complete sign-in with Time Doctor when the browser opens. The steps below cover tools without a dedicated guide.

Is There Already a Guide for This Tool?

These tools have step-by-step guides. Use them instead of this article:

Tool	Guide
Claude	Connect Claude to Time Doctor
ChatGPT	Connect ChatGPT to Time Doctor
Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI	Connect Command-Line AI Tools to Time Doctor
Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Zed	Connect Your Code Editor to Time Doctor
Replit, Lovable, Bolt	Connect App Builder Platforms to Time Doctor

If the tool in question is not listed above, continue below.

Before Starting

Confirm the following before setting up the connection:

A Time Doctor login with the Owner, Admin, or Manager role
Time Doctor MCP enabled by an Owner or Admin in the Company Settings page under the Configuration section labelled as AI Connections
A tool that supports remote MCP connections. If unsure, look for a section labeled MCP, Connectors, Integrations, Plugins, or Tools in the tool's settings

Connection Details

Server URL: https://api2.timedoctor.com/api/2.0/mcp/mcp
Name: Time Doctor
Authentication: OAuth, which some tools label sign-in, authorize, or MCP OAuth. Leave key, token, and header fields empty
Transport or connection type: Streamable HTTP, which some tools label HTTP or Remote HTTP

Set Up the Connection

In the tool's MCP or connector settings, add a new server.
Enter the name and server URL listed above.
If prompted for an authentication or connection type, choose OAuth. Leave any key or header fields empty.
If prompted for a transport type, choose Streamable HTTP.
Save or connect. The browser opens the Time Doctor sign-in page: sign in and select Allow Access.
Ask the tool a question about the Time Doctor data.

Test Connection

To test the connection, paste the following into the chat:

"Help me get started with my Time Doctor data. Ask me about my goals and build my first report."

If the Tool Uses a Config File

Some tools have no settings screen and require editing a JSON file instead. The most common format appears below.

For an empty or new file, copy the entire block:

{
"mcpServers": {
"timedoctor": {
"url": "https://api2.timedoctor.com/api/2.0/mcp/mcp"
}
}
}

If the file already has other servers, copy only the Time Doctor entry inside the existing section:

"timedoctor": { "url": "https://api2.timedoctor.com/api/2.0/mcp/mcp" }

Save the file and restart the tool. Config files are read at start-up.

Field Names Vary by Tool

The values stay the same; only the labels change. If the tool rejects the config above, it is almost always because it expects different field names. The table below lists the names used by tested tools:

Tool	Section Name	URL Field	Anything Else
Most tools	mcpServers	url
VS Code	servers	url	Also needs a type field set to http
Windsurf	mcpServers	serverUrl
Zed	context_servers	url
Gemini CLI	mcpServers	httpUrl
Codex CLI	mcp_servers, in a TOML file	url	Written as [mcp_servers.timedoctor]

If a tool is not listed, check its own MCP documentation for the expected field names.

Advanced: Connect With an API Key

Use a key when the tool cannot open a browser sign-in — for example, an autonomous agent, a scheduled script, or a server-side integration. Create a key in Time Doctor under the AI Connections page, then add it as a header:

{
"timedoctor": {
"url": "https://api2.timedoctor.com/api/2.0/mcp/mcp",
"headers": {
"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"
}
}
}

Keep the field names the tool expects, using the table above.

Treat the key like a password: keep it private, do not share it, and revoke it at any time from the AI Connections page. The key is shown only once, at creation, and works with any MCP-capable tool. For a full walkthrough, see Connect Autonomous AI Agents to Time Doctor.

If the Tool Cannot Sign In or Send a Key

A few tools support remote MCP servers but have no way to authenticate to one yet; they accept a URL and nothing else. Because Time Doctor requires identification, these tools cannot connect.

For a tool in this category, use a command-line tool in the same terminal or workspace instead. See Connect Command-Line AI Tools to Time Doctor. This provides the same Time Doctor data without switching tools entirely.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
The tool rejects the config, or the server will not start	Check the field names against the table above. This is the most common cause.
The tool does not pick up the change	Save the file and restart the tool. Config files are read at start-up.
The browser sign-in page does not open	Check that the browser did not block the pop-up, then connect again. If the tool shows a sign-in link, copy it into the browser.
Sign-in fails, or a permissions error appears	Confirm with a Time Doctor Owner or Admin that Time Doctor MCP is enabled in the Company Settings page under the Configuration section labelled as AI Connections, and that the role is Owner, Admin, or Manager.
The connection succeeds but no tools appear	Some tools only load tools at start-up. Restart the tool, then check its MCP settings again.
The tool answers without using Time Doctor data	Name it directly, for example: "Using Time Doctor, show hours tracked this week."
There is no option to add a server at all	The tool may not support remote MCP connections. Check its documentation, or use a command-line tool instead.

Disconnecting

Remove the Time Doctor server in the tool's settings, or delete its entry from the config file and restart the tool. Access can also be ended from the Time Doctor side in the AI Connections page, which immediately stops that tool from reading the data.

Next Step

See Getting Started: What to Ask Your Time Doctor AI Connection.

Should there be any inconsistencies or concerns regarding the article, contact support@timedoctor.com for prompt assistance.