MCP Server for WordPress — Claude Setup Guide

1. Overview

MCP Server for WordPress connects a WordPress site to Claude so users can read information about their site and perform actions on it using natural language, for example, checking site and environment details, viewing their account, and creating or updating posts, etc. The connector exposes whatever abilities the site registers through the WordPress Abilities API as tools that Claude can call. Each ability is a discrete, permission-checked action defined on the site, so any ability available on the WordPress site can be executed through the connector, always within the limits of the signed-in user's permissions.

2. Prerequisites

Before connecting, you need:

• A self-hosted WordPress site running WordPress 6.9 or later. This is the version that introduced the WordPress Abilities API, which the connector relies on.

• The site must be publicly reachable over HTTPS, since the connection is made from the internet. Local or private URLs will not work.

• The free miniOrange Secure MCP Server plugin is installed and active on the site. It is available from the WordPress plugin directory.

3. Setup

WordPress Side Setup

1. In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Plugins, then the Add New button.

2. Search for miniOrange Secure MCP Server, click Install Now, then Activate.

3. After activation, open the Secure MCP Server menu in the admin sidebar. The Connect to AI tab shows your site's connection details and the abilities currently available on your site.

4. Copy the site URL from the Connect to AI tab.

5. Keep the site URL handy; you'll need it while configuring the connector in Claude.

Note: A few Apache configurations strip the Authorization header before it reaches WordPress, which can cause sign-in to fail. If you hit that, add the following line to your site's root .htaccess file: RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]

Claude-side setup

1. In Claude, open Settings, then Connectors.

2. Click on the Add Connector icon and then select the Add custom connector option.

3. Add the connector name and the MCP URL, and click on the Add button.

4. Click on the Connect button.

5. Now, add the URL of your WordPress site and click on Continue.

6. Now, you'll be able to see the WordPress abilities listed as tools in the Claude. Now, users will be able to perform actions on the WordPress site by giving prompts in Claude.