Connect a Raily MCP endpoint to ChatGPT

Add Raily as a custom plugin so ChatGPT can search your endpoint inside a normal chat. These steps cover self-service custom plugins on ChatGPT web. Availability depends on your plan, role, workspace settings, and rollout. If your workspace uses Apps, ask an administrator or authorized developer to add the same MCP server URL there.

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What you need

Before you start, get two things from your Raily administrator:

• Your connect link. This is the MCP server address for the endpoint you should reach. For Raily-hosted sign-in, the administrator can copy it after granting access. An external provider does not use a Raily user grant.
• Confirmation of how you sign in. For a Raily-hosted sign-in, use the email address your administrator granted. For a bring-your-own sign-in, use your normal account with that identity provider. A different account may be refused.

You also need access to developer mode, where ChatGPT lets you add custom plugins.

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Turn on developer mode

1. Open Settings, then Security and login.
2. Switch Developer mode on.
3. Leave Enforce CSP in developer mode on.

ChatGPT labels developer mode ELEVATED RISK because custom plugins have not been reviewed. Add only servers that you or your organization control. Keep Enforce CSP in developer mode on so the plugin uses the same restrictions it would have in production. If there is no Developer mode setting, self-service custom plugins may be unavailable for your plan, role, workspace settings, or rollout. On a managed workspace, ask an administrator whether they can enable it or add the endpoint through Apps.

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Add the plugin

This self-service setup does not roll the plugin out to your workspace. On a managed workspace the Plugins page also has tabs for public plugins and for your workspace, but a workspace-wide rollout is an administrator’s job and is not covered here.

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Sign in to Raily

After you select Create, ChatGPT starts the connection. What appears after the first Raily screen depends on the endpoint’s sign-in provider.

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Check the connector

ChatGPT confirms that the plugin is installed and opens its card. Actions says no app actions are available yet. That is normal right after connecting. Select Refresh to scan the server and load its tools. Information shows the address you entered, the authorization used, and the date. Check the address here if you manage more than one endpoint.

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Use Raily in a chat

A connected plugin is not automatically active. You choose it for the message you are sending. In the composer, select Plugins in the row under the box, then your Raily plugin. Its name appears in front of your message. Type your question and send it. Choosing the plugin applies to that message. Select it again for your next question.

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Check that it works

An installed status confirms that ChatGPT completed setup. It does not confirm that search returns results. Ask a question that your source content answers. Confirm that ChatGPT uses your content rather than general knowledge.

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Troubleshooting

There is no Developer mode setting. Self-service custom plugins may be unavailable for your plan, role, workspace settings, or rollout. On a managed workspace, ask an administrator whether they can enable developer mode or add the endpoint through Apps. The + on the Plugins page does not appear. Confirm that developer mode is still on, then reopen the page. If the + still does not appear, self-service custom plugins are not enabled for your plan, role, workspace, or rollout. Create stays greyed out. The risk checkbox is not ticked. Tick I understand and want to continue. The text under Advanced OAuth settings never changes. The address is wrong or the server cannot be reached. Check that you pasted the whole link, including the ending, and that nothing was cut off. Authorization fails. For a Raily-hosted sign-in, confirm that the account matches the granted email and that the grant covers this endpoint. For a bring-your-own sign-in, check that your identity provider admits the account and that its provider configuration is valid in Raily. You connect successfully, but every search is empty. Ask a question you know the endpoint’s source can answer. If the result is still empty, check the source data, indexing status, saved search configuration, and query. Actions is empty on the connector card. Select Refresh to scan the server and load its tools. You reach one endpoint but not another. Each endpoint has its own connect link. With a Raily-hosted sign-in, confirm that the grant scope includes the other endpoint, then ask for that endpoint’s link. With a bring-your-own sign-in, confirm that the endpoint uses your provider and that the provider admits your account, then ask for its link. You had access and lost it. With a Raily-hosted sign-in, an administrator may have changed or removed your endpoint grant; that change applies on your next request. With a bring-your-own sign-in, check your account in your identity provider, then ask the administrator to check the provider’s status and configuration in Raily. The plugin is connected, but ChatGPT answers from general knowledge. It was not selected for that message. You pick the plugin per message, so it does not stay on for the rest of the chat.

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Next steps