How to Use the Apify MCP in Claude

Q: Can Claude Desktop pull large Apify datasets directly?

Yes, it pulls data using the getdatasetresults tool. Your agent reads the JSON output directly and can summarize or format it for you. It handles large datasets by fetching batches.

Run web scraping jobs and pull clean datasets directly into your Claude Desktop chat.

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Connect Apify MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect Apify to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Apify with Claude Desktop

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Run web scrapers from Claude Desktop

The `run_actor` tool kicks off any scraper on your Apify account directly from your Claude Desktop chat interface. This MCP Server lets your agent boot up the actor, track its progress, and alert you when the run finishes. Once the run completes, the agent uses `get_run_details` to verify the run status and execution time. This lets you pull fresh web data into your conversational window without jumping between tabs or writing custom API scripts.

Inspect scraping datasets in Claude Desktop

The `get_dataset_results` tool pulls raw extracted data directly into your Claude Desktop conversational context. Your agent uses this MCP tool to read the clean JSON or CSV output right away. If you aren't sure which run produced the data you need, the agent calls `list_datasets` to show you your storage history. It lets you inspect thousands of scraped web pages without leaving your chat window.

Manage scraper tasks using this MCP Server

The `list_actor_tasks` tool lets Claude Desktop read your pre-configured scraping templates and run them on command. Your agent checks your active tasks to see what parameters you already set up for your targets. It can also call `list_actors` to see what custom scrapers are available in your library. Instead of writing new selector code, you just tell your agent to run an existing crawler.

Setup guide

Set up Apify MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The Apify MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the Apify MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under apify-extended-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify-extended-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Apify. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Apify MCP in Claude Desktop

You tell your agent to trigger a specific scraper. It uses the `run_actor` tool to start the job and tracks it until it finishes. You get the results right in your chat.

Yes, it pulls data using the `get_dataset_results` tool. Your agent reads the JSON output directly and can summarize or format it for you. It handles large datasets by fetching batches.

You add your API token to your Claude Desktop configuration file. Vinkius manages the secure connection, so you only need to paste your single Vinkius MCP endpoint token into your local JSON config.

Your agent runs the job asynchronously and checks the status periodically. It uses `list_actor_runs` to see if the scraper is still active. You can keep chatting while the crawl runs in the background.

Yes, because your dataset results and actor configurations never touch external LLM training servers. Vinkius runs inside an ephemeral, zero-trust sandbox that discards your scraping data as soon as your session ends. Your Apify credentials remain fully isolated.

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