# ChatGPT

> Connect MCP Bond once for ChatGPT on the web and in the desktop and mobile apps.

Create Valency once on the web for ChatGPT in the browser, desktop app, and mobile app. **Codex CLI needs a separate connection.**

## Quick setup

Follow the current, tested steps on [the ChatGPT setup page](https://docs.valency.io/guides/chatgpt/). The sections below cover additional cases and troubleshooting.

## Use it in the mobile app

After creating Valency in your mobile browser, start a new ChatGPT conversation in the mobile app and ask it to use Valency to list the sources it can search. If Valency is not available yet, fully close and reopen the app, then try again. Complete setup in your browser; the mobile app cannot create a custom MCP app.

## Use it in the desktop app

### Chat and Work Cloud

The MCP app follows your ChatGPT account. In a desktop Chat or Work conversation, click **+** beside the message box, choose **Plugins**, and select **Valency — Infrastructure for Agentic Science**. Ask ChatGPT to use Valency to list its sources. A returned source list verifies that the tools work in that conversation.

If Valency is missing from the **+** menu, check **Customize → Plugins → Personal**. If it is connected there, click **... → Try now** if available to open a chat with Valency selected. Otherwise fully quit and reopen the desktop app, then check the **+** menu again. Do not create a duplicate app while it is present in Plugins settings.

### Work Local

In **Work → Local**, the same browser-created app is available; no marketplace plugin is needed. If Valency is connected but absent from the conversation's **+** menu, check **Customize → Plugins → Personal**. If available, click Valency's **... → Try now** to open a Work conversation with it selected. Otherwise fully quit and reopen the desktop app, then try again. Do not create a duplicate connection while it is present in Plugins settings.

### Codex mode

In **Codex mode** inside the desktop app, the same account connection is available. If it does not appear yet, fully quit and reopen the app, start a Codex conversation, and ask Codex to call Valency's `list_sources` tool. [Codex CLI](https://docs.valency.io/guides/chatgpt/codex-cli.md) is a separate terminal product with its own MCP setup.

## If the browser form is unavailable

The desktop app has an alternate route to create the same account MCP app. In ChatGPT mode, open **Customize → Plugins → Add → Add custom MCP server**. Enter the name, description, and server URL shown in step 1 above. No API token, client ID, or secret is needed. Leave **Authentication** on **OAuth**, check **I understand and want to continue**, and click **Create as a plugin**, then **Continue to Valency** and complete browser sign-in.

ChatGPT returns to the plugin list, but Valency may take a few seconds to appear under **Installed**. Wait for the green confirmation toast. Once it appears, return to your conversation, click **+ → Plugins**, and select **Valency — Infrastructure for Agentic Science**. If it is connected under **Customize → Plugins → Personal** but still absent from the chat picker, use **... → Try now** if available. Otherwise fully quit and reopen the app and start another conversation. Do not create a second MCP app while the connection is updating.

## Troubleshooting

**Valency is missing from the browser chat's + menu?** Refresh a chat that was open before you created the app. Search the **+** menu for Valency; some layouts put it under **Plugins** or **More**. If it remains missing, select it in a new chat. Do not create a duplicate app.

**The app is selected but its tools are unavailable?** Check that **Sign in with Valency** was completed after **Create as a plugin**. Try a new conversation with Valency selected and ask for its source list again.

**Desktop controls are missing?** Update to the current ChatGPT desktop app. The older Classic app does not have this plugin flow. If two Valency entries appear, choose **Valency — Infrastructure for Agentic Science** for the ChatGPT MCP app.

**Authorization fails or times out?** Retry sign-in and check which Valency account you used. Your Valency email does not have to match your ChatGPT email. A Valency account is created automatically on first sign-in.

If neither the browser nor desktop route shows **Add custom MCP server**, custom MCP app creation may be unavailable in this account or workspace. Contact support@valency.io with the screen you see. See [Troubleshooting](https://docs.valency.io/help/troubleshooting.md) for other connection issues.