Shadcn MCP for ChatGPT

One MCP URL gives ChatGPT live tools to search, preview, and install every block, component, and icon on shadcn.io — no hallucinated props, no broken installs.

ChatGPT's MCP support is in Developer Mode (beta) and available on Pro, Plus, Team, Enterprise, and Edu plans.

Install

1. Enable Developer Mode

In ChatGPT, go to Settings → Apps → Advanced settings and flip Enable Developer Mode on. This is a one-time step per account.

2. Create the app

Go to Settings → Apps → Create App and fill in:

Paste it in once you're signed in with an active shadcn.io Pro subscription — the URL carries your personal token, so treat it like an API key. Pro starts at $19/mo and includes MCP access across every editor plus 6,000+ production-ready blocks. Not Pro yet? See what you unlock →

Accept the security notice when ChatGPT prompts you. Because the token lives in the URL itself, there's no extra OAuth step — the connection is ready as soon as the app is saved.

3. Use it in a conversation

Start a new chat, click the plus icon in the composer → hover More → select shadcnio. Or just type "use shadcnio to…" in the prompt and ChatGPT routes tool calls to the app automatically.

Install your first block

use shadcnio to find a hero-announcement block and give me the install command

What ChatGPT actually does, in order:

1. search_items({ query: "hero-announcement" }) to confirm the slug resolves.
2. get_item({ name: "hero-announcement" }) for a cheap metadata peek.
3. get_install_command({ name: "hero-announcement" }) — returns a shadcn add https://www.shadcn.io/r/hero-announcement.json?token=… URL with your token already in the query string.
4. Hands you the command to run in your terminal.

ChatGPT doesn't have a shell-execution tool in chat — it returns the shadcn add command for you to copy and run in your own terminal inside your project. Name the app explicitly ("use shadcnio…") when multiple apps are enabled, or ChatGPT may pick a different one.

The example above uses hero-announcement, a Pro block — the install runs once you're signed in with an active subscription.

Manage the connection

Open Settings → Apps to see every custom app you've added. Toggle shadgcnio off to disable it without removing, or delete the app outright to revoke its access entirely. Write actions still require per-call confirmation in chat — ChatGPT surfaces a review dialog before the tool runs.

If your shadcn.io Pro subscription lapses, the next tool call returns 403. Resubscribing restores access on the following request — no reconfigure, no reinstall. The token itself stays valid across subscription gaps.

FAQ