Install Arcade in Claude Desktop
Claude Desktop Chat does not install agent plugins, so it gets Arcade tools through a connector instead. You still sign in to each app in the browser, and you still need no . You just do not get the plugin’s skills, commands, or arcade-operator subagent.
Outcomes
Connect Claude Desktop to Arcade and run a task against one of your apps.
Prerequisites
- Claude Desktop, updated to a version that supports custom connectors
Using Cowork or Claude Code inside the Claude desktop app? Those do load plugins. Install the full plugin with one command instead.
Add Arcade as a custom connector
- Open Settings → Connectors
- Click Add custom connector
- Paste the Arcade gateway URL:
TEXT
https://api.bosslevel.dev/mcp/all-optimized- Save, then start a new conversation
Sign in to your apps
The first time Claude reaches for an app, it returns a browser sign-in link. Approve it and Arcade holds the token from then on, so you only do this once per app.
Try it
- “What’s on my calendar tomorrow?”
- “What apps can Arcade use?”
- “Summarize the unread email from this week.”
Next steps
- Install the agent plugin: the full experience in Cursor, Claude Code, VS Code, Copilot CLI, or Codex
- From trial to team rollout: move a workflow onto a gateway you control
- Use Arcade in Claude Desktop with your own gateway: pick exactly which Claude can call
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