Skip to main content
Both of PolyAI’s MCP servers — Builder MCP and Data MCP — authenticate the same way: an account API key sent in the X-API-KEY header. One key works for either server.

​
Get an account API key

1

Open the API Keys page

Go to the API Keys tab on your workspace homepage in Agent Studio. See API keys for details.
2

Create a key

Select API key, name it, choose the agents it can access, and set its permissions. Scope it to the least it needs — see Security & safe use.
3

Copy the value

The full key is shown only once. Copy it immediately and store it in your client’s secret settings — never paste it into a chat prompt.
The API Keys tab in Agent Studio, showing the list of keys and the 'API key' button to create a new one

The API Keys tab on your workspace homepage in Agent Studio.

​
Configure your client

Pass the key in the X-API-KEY header. Both servers use the streamable HTTP transport, so clients also send an Accept header: Most clients set Accept automatically. See Quickstart for per-client configuration.

​
Pick your region

Both servers run in every region, on the same host family as the platform APIs. Your key is region-specific — a US key doesn’t work against the UK endpoint — so connect to the matching endpoint. Self-serve (Studio) accounts are supported on both servers.

​
OAuth (coming soon)

Browser-based OAuth is on the roadmap — you’ll be able to authorize a client without manually creating and pasting a key. At launch, use API-key authentication as described above. This page will cover OAuth once it ships.
Last modified on July 17, 2026