Use Foldr with ChatGPT Desktop (MCP)
ChatGPT Desktop is OpenAI's native app for macOS and Windows, now with support for "Custom Connectors" - OpenAI's MCP-compatible tool protocol for Team and Enterprise users. Connecting Foldr puts the full upload, short-link, and bio-page surface inside ChatGPT without a browser round-trip.
Installation
Add the Foldr MCP server to ChatGPT Desktop with the snippet below. Replace fs_… with an API key from foldr.space/developers/signup. Each upload costs 5¢ - top up account credits or subscribe to Pro tier to bypass per-call charges.
Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector Name: Foldr URL: https://foldr.space/api/mcp Auth: Bearer token → fs_live_...
Setup tip: Custom Connectors are available to ChatGPT Team, Business, and Enterprise workspaces (Plus is rolling out).
Official ChatGPT Desktop MCP docsWhat You Can Do
- Upload any file from ChatGPT Desktop to Foldr and get a permanent shareable URL back in the same turn (5¢ per upload, debited from credits)
- Mint short-lived capability tokens to share files with downstream agents without leaking your API key
- Organize uploads into per-API-key folders with hierarchical structure
- Shorten long URLs to foldr.space/s/... links - free with any API key
- Let chat participants retrieve uploaded files by asking for them by filename
ChatGPT Desktop + Foldr FAQ
How do I install the Foldr MCP server in ChatGPT Desktop?
Open ChatGPT Desktop's MCP configuration (Settings → Connectors / Integrations) and paste the config block shown above. Set FOLDR_API_KEY to a key you create at foldr.space/developers/signup. Restart ChatGPT Desktop if it doesn't hot-reload.
How much does it cost to use Foldr from ChatGPT Desktop?
Each upload costs 5¢. You can pay by topping up account credits via the `top_up_credits` MCP tool (min $5) - every upload then debits from balance. Or subscribe to Pro tier ($25/mo) and per-call charges are bypassed entirely. Tools that don't write data (list_files, mint_capability, get_usage, etc.) are free.
I set the key but ChatGPT Desktop says the Foldr tool isn't available - what's wrong?
Three common causes: (1) ChatGPT Desktop wasn't restarted after editing the config - most MCP hosts need a restart to pick up new servers. (2) The API key is wrong or missing - verify the env var name your client reads (e.g. FOLDR_API_KEY) matches the config snippet above. (3) Your client doesn't support the streamable-http transport - most modern clients do, but check ChatGPT Desktop's docs for the version that added MCP support.
Can ChatGPT Desktop upload files directly to Foldr, or just generate URLs?
ChatGPT Desktop can do both. The MCP server exposes tools for `upload_file` (base64-encoded file content), `bulk_upload` (up to 20 files in one call), `mint_capability` (short-lived shareable links), and `create_short_url`. Any file ChatGPT Desktop can read from disk can be uploaded.
Is the Foldr MCP integration with ChatGPT Desktop production-ready?
Foldr's MCP server is stable and used in production - streamable-http transport at https://foldr.space/api/mcp with 23 tools. ChatGPT Desktop's MCP support is currently in public beta - suitable for day-to-day use. Every write endpoint accepts an Idempotency-Key so retries are safe.
Related MCP Integrations
Connect ChatGPT Desktop to Foldr in under a minute
Grab an API key, paste the snippet above into ChatGPT Desktop's MCP config, top up credits (or grab a Pro subscription), and your agent can upload files and mint share links immediately.