There is no universal MCP setting for an API key header. Find the configuration supported by your exact client and connection type, then provide the credential in the format the remote server expects. For example, OpenAI’s Agents API HTTP transport supports session-level authorization and headers fields, while Anthropic’s MCP connector uses an authorization_token field for an OAuth authorization token.
What to check before adding a credential
Identify both ends of the connection before changing configuration:
- Client and integration: field names and supported authentication methods differ between clients. An OpenAI Agents API field is not automatically valid in Anthropic’s connector or another MCP client.
- Connection type and origin: OpenAI distinguishes HTTP connections made from OpenAI, HTTP connections made from an execution environment, and stdio connections. Credential options depend on the connection origin. See OpenAI’s remote MCP guide.
- Server’s authentication scheme: check whether the server expects a bearer token, a raw API key, a vendor-specific header such as
X-API-Key, or an OAuth flow. These formats are not interchangeable by default.
Google Cloud documents bearer tokens and API keys as possible Authorization-header methods for its own services, but that does not establish what another MCP server accepts. Follow the server’s authentication instructions; Google’s guidance is at Google Cloud authentication methods.
Configure headers in OpenAI’s Agents API
For an HTTP MCP server connection in an OpenAI Agents API session, the documented transport can include an authorization value and additional string-valued headers. For example:
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{
"type": "http",
"server_url": "https://mcp.example.com/mcp",
"authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MCP_ACCESS_TOKEN",
"headers": {
"X-Tenant-ID": "tenant_123"
}
}This example uses a bearer token in the Authorization value and a separate tenant header. Replace the example URL, token, and tenant value with those for your server. If the server expects a different scheme or header name, configure that according to the server’s instructions rather than assuming this example is universal.
OpenAI says to use one source for Authorization: inline configuration or a matching vault credential. Its vault-backed MCP authentication applies to connections made from OpenAI; HTTP connections originating in an execution environment use inline authentication or a trusted proxy. The available methods also differ for stdio connections, so confirm the connection origin in the OpenAI guide before choosing a setup.
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Configure Anthropic’s MCP connector separately
Anthropic’s Messages API MCP connector uses a different server-definition shape, including type: "url", a server URL, a name, and authorization_token. Anthropic describes that field as an OAuth authorization token; API consumers obtain the access token before making the request and refresh it as needed. Do not assume a static API key belongs in this field unless the client and server documentation explicitly supports that use.
The connector is documented as a beta feature, and its beta labels or version identifiers may change. Check the current Anthropic MCP connector documentation when implementing it.
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Use a header helper in Codex MCP configuration
Codex MCP configuration documents an optional http_headers_helper that prints a JSON object of header names and string values. Explicit bearer tokens and OAuth credentials take precedence over an Authorization header supplied by this helper. Check Codex MCP configuration for the supported configuration and behavior; do not copy the Agents API transport fields into Codex configuration without documentation saying they apply.
Keep credentials out of reusable configuration
Treat API keys, bearer tokens, and OAuth tokens as secrets. OpenAI advises keeping secrets out of reusable agent definitions, plugin archives, and logs. When agent-generated code must not be able to access credentials, OpenAI recommends using a trusted proxy or server to inject them outside the execution environment. For OpenAI connections, avoid configuring Authorization both inline and through a matching vault credential.
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Troubleshoot a remote MCP connection
- Confirm the URL and connection origin. Check the configured server URL and whether the request originates from the client service or an execution environment. If the server is reachable only from one network, the other origin may fail even with valid credentials.
- Verify network reachability. Ensure the relevant service or executor can reach the remote server. For environment-connected servers, check that the execution environment has access to that server.
- Match the credential to the server’s expected format. Verify the exact header name and value format, including whether the server expects
Authorization: Bearer …, a raw API key, a vendor-specific header, or an OAuth token. - Check for competing Authorization sources. In OpenAI’s Agents API, use either inline Authorization or the matching vault credential, not both. In Codex, note that an explicit bearer token or OAuth credential takes precedence over a helper-provided Authorization header.
- Inspect initialization errors. OpenAI recommends checking initialization errors when a required server cannot initialize. Use the error to distinguish a reachability or URL problem from an authentication mismatch.
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