# How to connect Kernel to Claude

```json
{
  "title": "How to connect Kernel to Claude",
  "toolkit": "Kernel",
  "toolkit_slug": "kernel",
  "framework": "Claude Cowork",
  "framework_slug": "claude-cowork",
  "url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/claude-cowork",
  "markdown_url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/claude-cowork.md",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T05:35:27.828Z"
}
```

## Introduction

Claude is Anthropic's AI assistant, available on the web, in the desktop app, and on mobile. Cowork is its agent for knowledge work, and it runs on all of those surfaces too. Connected to your apps, Claude can work with your files and services to accomplish complex tasks on your behalf.
This guide walks you through the easiest and most secure way to connect your Kernel account to Claude via Composio Connect, enabling it to launch a cloud browser for checkout testing, run Playwright checks on a web app, review a browser session replay, and more such actions on your behalf without compromising your account security.
Setup is the same on Claude Web, Desktop, and Cowork, and you only need to do it once. The connector is tied to your account, so it's available in all three.

## Also integrate Kernel with

- [ChatGPT](https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/chatgpt)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/hermes-agent)
- [Atomic Agent](https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/atomic-agent)

## Connect Kernel to Claude Cowork

### Connecting Kernel to Claude Web, Desktop, and Cowork
Two ways to add the Composio connector. Pick whichever you prefer.
### 1. Add with one click
Click the button. Claude opens with the Composio connector filled in. Click Add, then go to step 2.
[Add to Claude](https://claude.ai/customize/connectors?modal=add-custom-connector&connectorName=Composio&connectorUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fconnect.composio.dev%2Fmcp)
### Add manually
In Claude Desktop, click Customize in the left sidebar, then select Connectors and click the + icon at the top.
Click Add custom connector and paste in the Composio MCP server URL:

```bash
https://connect.composio.dev/mcp
```

## What is the Kernel MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Kernel MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Kernel account. It provides structured and secure access to cloud browsers, persistent profiles, computer controls, Playwright execution, browser network requests, screenshots, and session replays, so your agent can create browser sessions, interact with websites, run Playwright workflows, preserve browser state, and record sessions on your behalf.
- Cloud browser control: Have your agent create, update, inspect, and delete browser sessions, then click, scroll, type text, press keys, move the mouse, and capture screenshots.
- Playwright browser automation: Direct your agent to run JavaScript or TypeScript with Playwright to navigate pages, interact with forms, submit actions, and automate browser workflows.
- Persistent browser profiles: Let the agent create, save, download, rename, list, and delete browser profiles so browser state can be reused across sessions.
- Authenticated browser requests: Instruct your agent to send read-only or state-changing HTTP requests through a browser while using its cookies, headers, TLS fingerprint, and proxy settings.
- Session recording and extensions: Have your agent start and stop browser replays, list and retrieve recordings, and upload unpacked Chromium extensions to a running browser.

## Supported Tools

| Tool slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `KERNEL_BATCH_COMPUTER_ACTIONS` | Batch Computer Actions | Execute 1-100 computer actions sequentially in a Kernel browser, stopping on the first error. Actions can click, type, press keys, and submit forms or cause other irreversible external effects. |
| `KERNEL_BROWSER_CURL` | Browser Curl | Send a read-only GET, HEAD, or OPTIONS request through a Kernel browser's network stack, inheriting its cookies, TLS fingerprint, proxy settings, and default headers. For POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE, use Browser HTTP Request. |
| `KERNEL_BROWSER_HTTP_REQUEST` | Browser HTTP Request | Send a state-changing POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE request through a Kernel browser's network stack, inheriting its cookies, TLS fingerprint, proxy settings, and default headers. The target may change external systems irreversibly. For GET, HEAD, or OPTIONS, use Browser Curl. |
| `KERNEL_CLICK` | Click | Click at browser viewport coordinates with an optional mouse button, click phase, modifiers, and repetition count. A click can submit forms, place orders, or cause other irreversible external effects. |
| `KERNEL_CREATE_BROWSER` | Create Browser | Create a Kernel browser session; defaults to a headless browser with a 60-second inactivity timeout. |
| `KERNEL_CREATE_PROFILE` | Create Profile | Create an empty persistent browser profile, optionally with a unique name, for reuse by later browser sessions. |
| `KERNEL_DELETE_BROWSER` | Delete Browser | Permanently end and delete a Kernel browser session by ID or name. |
| `KERNEL_DELETE_PLAYWRIGHT_EXECUTOR` | Delete Playwright Executor | Stop and permanently delete a named, non-default Playwright executor from a Kernel browser. Its running call fails, its name can be reused, and close_tab controls whether its tab is also closed. To restart the reserved default executor, use Restart Default Playwright Executor. |
| `KERNEL_DELETE_PROFILE` | Delete Profile | Permanently delete a browser profile by ID or name. |
| `KERNEL_DOWNLOAD_PROFILE` | Download Profile | Download a profile's stored browser state. Current profiles return the requested tar.zst or uncompressed tar format; legacy profiles may return JSON regardless of the requested format. The profile must have captured state from a browser session. |
| `KERNEL_DRAG_MOUSE` | Drag Mouse | Drag a mouse button through an ordered path of browser viewport coordinates, with optional timing, linear-step, and modifier controls. A drag can move items, submit controls, or cause other irreversible external effects. |
| `KERNEL_EXECUTE_PLAYWRIGHT` | Execute Playwright | Execute arbitrary TypeScript or JavaScript with Playwright access to the browser; the code may navigate, mutate pages, submit forms, or cause irreversible external effects. |
| `KERNEL_GET_BROWSER` | Get Browser | Get safe operational details for one browser session by ID or name, optionally including a deleted session. |
| `KERNEL_GET_MOUSE_POSITION` | Get Mouse Position | Get the current mouse cursor coordinates in a Kernel browser session. |
| `KERNEL_GET_PROFILE` | Get Profile | Get one browser profile by its ID or exact name. |
| `KERNEL_GET_REPLAY` | Get Replay | Download a completed browser replay as MP4. If the replay is still processing, the action asks the caller to retry later. |
| `KERNEL_LIST_BROWSERS` | List Browsers | List browser sessions, optionally filtered by lifecycle state, search text, tags, or region, one offset page at a time. |
| `KERNEL_LIST_PLAYWRIGHT_EXECUTORS` | List Playwright Executors | List the default and named Playwright executors for a Kernel browser, including whether each is busy and its owned tab when available. |
| `KERNEL_LIST_PROFILES` | List Profiles | List browser profiles, optionally filtered by substring or exact name, one offset page at a time. |
| `KERNEL_LIST_REPLAYS` | List Replays | List replay recordings for a headful browser session without returning signed viewer URLs. |
| `KERNEL_MOVE_MOUSE` | Move Mouse | Move the cursor to browser viewport coordinates, optionally using a timed human-like path and held modifier keys. |
| `KERNEL_PRESS_KEY` | Press Key | Press an ordered sequence of X11 keys or key chords in a browser, optionally holding modifiers or holding the sequence for a duration. Key presses may submit forms, activate controls, or trigger other irreversible external effects. |
| `KERNEL_READ_CLIPBOARD` | Read Clipboard | Read the current text from a Kernel browser session's clipboard. |
| `KERNEL_RENAME_PROFILE` | Rename Profile | Rename a Kernel browser profile by ID or exact name. Rename profiles only when they are not in use because sessions referencing the old name may fail to save their changes. |
| `KERNEL_RESTART_DEFAULT_PLAYWRIGHT_EXECUTOR` | Restart Default Playwright Executor | Restart a Kernel browser's reserved default Playwright executor. Its process is stopped and any running call fails irreversibly; queued and later calls run on the new process. This does not delete a named executor or close a tab. |
| `KERNEL_SAVE_BROWSER_PROFILE` | Save Browser Profile | Save a running browser's current state to exactly one destination profile ID or name, creating a named profile when needed and overwriting an existing destination. This restarts the browser, closes all active connections, reloads pages, and loses in-memory page state; reconnect after completion. It does not attach the profile or enable save_changes. |
| `KERNEL_SCROLL` | Scroll | Scroll horizontally or vertically at browser viewport coordinates, optionally while holding modifier keys. |
| `KERNEL_SET_CURSOR_VISIBILITY` | Set Cursor Visibility | Hide or show the cursor in a Kernel browser session. |
| `KERNEL_START_REPLAY` | Start Replay | Start recording a headful Kernel browser session and return its replay identifier and recording metadata without exposing its signed viewer URL. |
| `KERNEL_STOP_REPLAY` | Stop Replay | Stop an active replay recording for a Kernel browser identified by ID or name. |
| `KERNEL_TAKE_SCREENSHOT` | Take Screenshot | Capture the full browser viewport or a rectangular region as a PNG download. |
| `KERNEL_TYPE_TEXT` | Type Text | Type text into the currently focused browser element with an optional per-keystroke delay. |
| `KERNEL_UPDATE_BROWSER` | Update Browser | Update mutable settings on an existing Kernel browser session. |
| `KERNEL_UPLOAD_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS` | Upload Browser Extensions | Upload and activate one or more unpacked Chromium extension ZIP archives in an existing running browser. This ad-hoc operation does not add extensions to Kernel's reusable extension catalog. Chromium may restart, disrupting active browser connections. |
| `KERNEL_WRITE_CLIPBOARD` | Write Clipboard | Write text to the system clipboard of a Kernel browser session. |

## Supported Triggers

None listed.

## Troubleshooting

### 1. Why does Claude not use the Composio connector for Kernel?

The connector can show as connected, but Claude must use it in each Kernel conversation.
- Click + at the lower left of the chat, or type /.
- Hover Connectors.
- Turn on Composio.
- Ask Claude to connect to Kernel again.

### 2. Why does Claude show an MCP server error before Kernel connects?

Claude can show Couldn't reach the MCP server or Authorization with the MCP server failed when you add the connector for Kernel.
- Check that the connector URL is https://connect.composio.dev/mcp.
- Connectors run from Anthropic's cloud, so your device network is usually not the problem.
- Add the connector again from Customize > Connectors, then ask Claude to connect Kernel.
- If it fails again, send the error and the ofid_ reference id to support@composio.dev.

### 3. Why does the Kernel authorization link not work?

The Composio connector is one server. Your Kernel account connects separately when Claude asks for it.
- If the browser does not open, or the link expires, ask Claude to retry the Kernel connection.
- Composio creates a fresh Kernel authorization link.
- Open that link in your browser and finish the Kernel sign-in.

### 4. Why do Kernel actions fail after they worked before?

The Kernel connection can expire or lose permission.
- Ask Claude to inspect the Kernel connection.
- If the connection is unhealthy, disconnect it when Claude prompts you.
- Reconnect the Kernel account and retry the action.
- If Claude shows a permission prompt, approve it before Claude changes data in Kernel.
- If the action still fails with a permission error, check that the connected account has that permission in Kernel itself.

### 5. How do I switch to a different Kernel account?

Claude can manage the Kernel connection for you.
- Ask Claude to disconnect or delete the current Kernel account.
- Ask Claude to connect Kernel again.
- Open the new Composio authorization link for Kernel.
- Sign in with the other Kernel account in the browser.
- After the account connects, ask Claude to retry the Kernel task.

### 6. Why is my Kernel connection missing in Claude Desktop or on a Team plan?

The connector belongs to your Claude account, so your Kernel connection works in Claude Web, Desktop, and Cowork.
- In Claude Desktop, open Customize > Connectors.
- Next to Composio, click ⋮ and click Clear cache.
- If Kernel tools still do not appear, click ⋮, disconnect, remove the connector, and add it again.
- On Team or Enterprise, an Owner or Primary Owner must enable the connector before you can connect Kernel.

## Creating MCP Server - Stand-alone vs Composio SDK

The Kernel MCP server connects Claude Web, Desktop, and Cowork to your Kernel account through Composio. Once connected, Claude can use the available Kernel tools and triggers to complete tasks on your behalf.

## Complete Code

None listed.

## How to build Kernel MCP Agent with another framework

- [ChatGPT](https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/chatgpt)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/hermes-agent)
- [Atomic Agent](https://composio.dev/toolkits/kernel/framework/atomic-agent)

## Related Toolkits

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the differences in Tool Router MCP and Kernel MCP?

With a standalone Kernel MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of Kernel tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from Kernel and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

### Can I use Tool Router MCP with Claude Cowork?

Yes, you can. Claude Cowork fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right Kernel tools.

### Can I manage the permissions and scopes for Kernel while using Tool Router?

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which Kernel scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

### How safe is my data with Composio Tool Router?

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Kernel data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

---
[See all toolkits](https://composio.dev/toolkits) · [Composio docs](https://docs.composio.dev/llms.txt)