Downloading a WordPress plugin is a low-commitment action. The moment that actually matters — the moment when a plugin delivers its first real value — is the first successful connection. For MCPWP, that means your AI assistant successfully calling a WordPress MCP tool and getting back real data from your site. This guide takes you from download to that first successful connection as directly as possible.
Step 1: Download and Install MCPWP
Go to mcpwp.net/download and download the plugin ZIP file. In your WordPress admin panel, navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, select the ZIP, and click Install Now. After installation completes, click Activate Plugin.
Alternatively, if MCPWP is listed in the WordPress plugin directory, you can search for it directly from Plugins > Add New and install without downloading the ZIP manually.
Step 2: Find Your MCP Endpoint URL
After activation, go to Settings > MCPWP in your WordPress admin. At the top of the settings page, you’ll see your MCP endpoint URL. It follows this pattern:
https://yoursite.com/wp-json/site-pilot-ai/v1/mcpCopy this URL. You’ll need it in the next step. If you’re running WordPress locally and plan to connect an AI assistant that runs remotely (like Claude Desktop), you’ll need to expose your local server with a tunneling tool — but if your WordPress site is live on the internet, you’re ready to proceed.
Step 3: Generate Your First API Key
In the MCPWP settings panel, click Generate API Key. For your first connection test, choose Editor scope — it gives enough permissions to read content and make basic edits, without full admin access.
Give the key a name you’ll recognize, like “Claude Test” or “My AI Assistant”. Click Generate. The key will be displayed once — copy it now and store it somewhere safe. The key format looks like: spai_a1b2c3d4e5f6...
Step 4: Configure Your AI Assistant
How you configure your AI assistant depends on which one you’re using:
Claude Desktop
Open your Claude Desktop config file at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or the Windows equivalent. Add your MCPWP server under mcpServers with the endpoint URL and API key. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.
Claude Code
Add MCPWP as an MCP server in your project’s .mcp.json file or via Claude Code’s settings command. Point it at your MCPWP endpoint URL and include the API key in the authentication headers.
Other AI Assistants
Any AI assistant with MCP support can connect to MCPWP. The configuration varies by assistant but always requires the same two pieces of information: the endpoint URL and the API key. Check your AI assistant’s documentation for MCP server configuration instructions.
Step 5: Make Your First Successful Call
Open a new conversation with your AI assistant and try this prompt: “List the five most recent posts on my WordPress site.”
Your AI assistant will invoke the wp_list_posts MCP tool, which calls your MCPWP endpoint, authenticates with your API key, and returns a structured list of your posts. The AI will present this information in the conversation.
If you see your actual posts listed, you’ve made your first successful MCP connection. That’s the conversion event — the moment when your WordPress site and your AI assistant are working together.
What to Try Next
Once the connection is established, the range of what you can do expands quickly. Try these as your next prompts:
- “Create a draft post titled ‘Getting Started with AI WordPress Management'”
- “Check the SEO readiness of my most recent blog post”
- “List all pages that are missing featured images”
- “Show me the Elementor layout for the homepage”
If Something Doesn’t Work
The most common issues at this stage are:
- 401 Unauthorized — the API key isn’t being passed correctly; double-check the header name (
X-API-Key) and the key value - 404 Not Found — the endpoint URL is wrong or WordPress permalinks need flushing (go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save)
- Connection refused — your site isn’t publicly accessible; if testing locally, use a tunnel
Ready to Connect?
Most users complete the download-to-first-connection path in under ten minutes. The plugin installs like any other WordPress plugin, the key takes seconds to generate, and the AI assistant configuration is a few lines in a config file.
Download MCPWP now and make your first successful WordPress MCP connection today.