How to Use the PDF.co MCP in Claude

Q: How do I install the PDF.co MCP Server on Claude Desktop?

Open your claudedesktopconfig.json file and add the server configuration under the mcpServers key with your PDF.co API key. Restart Claude Desktop, look for the hammer icon in the chat input, and you can immediately start converting files.

Q: How do I check my PDF.co credit balance inside Claude Desktop?

Ask your agent to check your balance, which triggers the getaccountinfo tool. It returns your current credit balance and account status directly inside the Claude Desktop chat window.

Run PDF.co document tools directly inside Claude Desktop to parse, merge, and OCR files without leaving your chat window.

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Connect PDF.co MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect PDF.co to Claude Desktop — we handle the hosting, security, and runtime updates so you don't have to. No server setup required.

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Setup PDF.co with Claude Desktop

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Convert files to structured data in Claude Desktop

The `pdf_to_json`, `pdf_to_csv`, and `pdf_to_xml` tools convert raw documents into clean, structured formats that your desktop client can read instantly. By connecting this MCP Server, you tell Claude Desktop to run the conversion on a local file, and the server returns structured payloads directly into your active chat session. This removes the manual step of exporting data from a separate web tool. Your agent parses tables, extracts schemas, and formats the output using raw JSON or XML data, allowing you to run downstream analysis on financial statements or invoices immediately.

Run image OCR directly inside your chat

The `ocr_image` tool extracts text from scanned documents, receipts, and photos using the PDF.co cloud engine. When you drag an image into Claude Desktop, your agent calls this tool to pull raw text out of the image, making unsearchable files instantly readable. You don't need to boot up a separate desktop OCR app. The engine processes the image, returns the text to your chat window, and lets you immediately write scripts or summaries based on the extracted text.

Assemble and secure files via this MCP Server

The `merge_pdfs`, `split_pdf`, `protect_pdf`, and `unprotect_pdf` tools let you manipulate file structures and security settings directly from the Claude Desktop prompt. You can tell your agent to combine three local PDFs, split a specific page range, and encrypt the final file with a password in a single turn. This local-to-cloud bridge handles the heavy lifting without exposing your entire file system. You control the input files from your desktop, this MCP Server manages the API calls to PDF.co, and your agent delivers the processed file links directly in the workspace.

Setup guide

Set up PDF.co 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 PDF.co 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 PDF.co 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 pdfco-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pdfco-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 PDF.co. 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 PDF.co MCP in Claude Desktop

Open your `claude_desktop_config.json` file and add the server configuration under the `mcpServers` key with your PDF.co API key. Restart Claude Desktop, look for the hammer icon in the chat input, and you can immediately start converting files.

Yes, you can pass local file paths to the agent. Because Claude Desktop runs with local system access, it reads the file from your hard drive and sends it to the PDF.co API for processing via tools like `pdf_to_text`.

Ask your agent to check your balance, which triggers the `get_account_info` tool. It returns your current credit balance and account status directly inside the Claude Desktop chat window.

For large files, the server initiates an asynchronous job and uses `check_job_status` to monitor progress. Claude Desktop will poll this endpoint until the file is ready, then download the final output.

Your PDFs and images are sent securely to the PDF.co API via HTTPS for processing. Files are temporarily cached on secure servers during the conversion and deleted shortly after, ensuring your document content is never stored permanently.

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