• PUBLIC
  • PRIVATE
  • DEV
  • HUMAN

How to expose local services with your AI

Connect your local development environment to the web through your AI client. Once connected, your agent handles the tunneling for you.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I make my local web server public using AI?

Your AI uses the zrok MCP to open a secure tunnel from your machine to a public or private URL. This lets you share local ports or web apps without manual configuration. You get a live endpoint you can test or send to others.

The outcomes

Where your services land.

What happens after your AI runs the command.

PUBLIC

Live web access

The AI creates a public URL for your local port. Anyone with the link can reach your running service.

PRIVATE

Secure sharing

The AI sets up a private tunnel. Only authorized users or specific clients can access the local resource.

DEV

Instant testing

Your local web server becomes reachable by external webhooks or testers. The AI manages the connection lifecycle.

HUMAN

Manual control

You decide when to shut down the tunnel or change port settings. The AI handles the heavy lifting, but you control the access.

The workflow

What your AI does when you request a tunnel.

The AI acts as the bridge between your local machine and the internet.

  1. Identify the target

    Your AI looks at your local environment to find the specific port or web server you want to share.

    create_share

  2. Establish the tunnel

    The AI executes the command to create a secure connection between your machine and the zrok network.

    create_share

  3. Generate the endpoint

    The AI receives the unique URL generated by the tunnel and presents it to you.

    create_share

  4. Verify connectivity

    The AI confirms the tunnel is active and ready for traffic.

    create_share

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the tunneling process.

Starting points

Replace the port numbers and service names with your actual local data.

zrok Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_ClXF7DisyXQ0EoLqQIltNLLkA1JbCPYyg6iY16El/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — zrok capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zrok-open-source-tunnel-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_ClXF7DisyXQ0EoLqQIltNLLkA1JbCPYyg6iY16El/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Create a public share for my local web server running on port 8080.

  • Set up a private tunnel for my local API on port 3000.

  • Expose my local React app on port 5173 so I can show it to a client.

  • Make my local database dashboard on port 9000 accessible via a public URL.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect zrok once, then ask.

Just link the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start tunneling immediately.

Connect zrok to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI see my other local files?

    No. The AI only interacts with the specific ports or services you tell it to share through the tunnel.

  • 02

    Does the AI manage my local firewall?

    No. The AI uses the tunnel to bypass the need for manual firewall changes, but it cannot modify your system's security settings.

  • 03

    Can I make the tunnel permanent?

    The AI creates tunnels on demand. You have to ask it to create a new one if the current session ends.

  • 04

    Will the AI delete my local code?

    No. The AI only creates a path to access your running services. It has no tools to modify or delete your local files.

  • 05

    Can the AI create a tunnel for a non-web service?

    Yes, as long as the service is listening on a local port that the tunnel can reach.

  • More questions about zrok? See everything the zrok Connector can do

Connect zrok to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more