---
title: "Authenticate"
description: "Guide to authenticating with the Morningstar MCP server using OAuth or a bearer token."
url: "https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/morningstar-mcp-server/authenticate-morningstar-mcp"
image: "https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/_og/d/c_Ocean.takumi,title_~QXV0aGVudGljYXRlIHwgTW9ybmluZ3N0YXIgTUNQ,description_Guide+to+authenticating+with+the+Morningstar+MCP+server+using+OAuth+or+a+bearer+token.,props_eyJ0aGVtZSI6eyJtb2RlIjoibGlnaHQiLCJjb2xvcnMiOnsicHJpbWFyeSI6IiMwMDAwMDAifX19,p_Ii9tb3JuaW5nc3Rhci1tY3Atc2VydmVyL2F1dGhlbnRpY2F0ZS1tb3JuaW5nc3Rhci1tY3Ai,s_mL_MjWwKUARmV6sa.png"
---

-   [AI Solutions](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/ai-solutions)
-   [Morningstar MCP Server](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/morningstar-mcp-server)
-   [Trial Access](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/trial-access)

# Morningstar MCP Server

Connect trusted data to your AI workflows with the Morningstar MCP Server.

# Authenticate

[View Markdown](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/morningstar-mcp-server/authenticate-morningstar-mcp.md)[Download Markdown](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/morningstar-mcp-server/authenticate-morningstar-mcp.md)

The Morningstar MCP Server requires authentication. How you authenticate depends on how you connect: AI clients such as Claude, ChatGPT and Copilot prompt you to sign in with your Morningstar credentials (OAuth), while your own code authenticates with a bearer token.

## [Before You Begin](#before-you-begin)

You need a licensed Morningstar account. This applies whether you connect through a client, the [Morningstar Plugin](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/morningstar-mcp-server/set-up-morningstar-mcp), or your own code.

## [Choose an Authentication Method](#choose-an-authentication-method)

| Method       | Use it when                                                                      | Credentials                                                |
| :----------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------- |
| OAuth        | You connect through an AI client                                                 | Your Morningstar username and password, entered at sign-in |
| Bearer token | You connect from your own code, or your platform supports token-based authentication | A token obtained from the Authentication API               |

## [Authenticate with OAuth](#authenticate-with-oauth)

Use OAuth when you add Morningstar to an AI client as a connector, app or tool.

1.  Add the Morningstar MCP Server to your client. See [Set Up Manually](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/morningstar-mcp-server/set-up-morningstar-mcp) or [Set Up with Plugin](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/morningstar-mcp-server/set-up-morningstar-mcp).
2.  When prompted, sign in with your Morningstar credentials.
3.  Once authenticated, start using Morningstar data by asking a question in your client.

### [Authentication by Platform](#authentication-by-platform)

| Platform          | Supported authentication                                                         |
| :---------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Claude            | OAuth. Users authenticate when connecting, from Add connectors or Settings → Connectors. |
| ChatGPT           | OAuth, when connecting from Explore apps.                                        |
| Copilot Studio    | OAuth                                                                            |
| Copilot App       | OAuth, when connecting from Apps.                                                |
| Microsoft Foundry | OAuth or token-based                                                             |
| Perplexity        | See the Perplexity connection steps.                                             |

For Claude Enterprise accounts, the administrator adds Morningstar as a custom connector once for the whole account. Each user must still authenticate with their own Morningstar credentials.

## [Authenticate with a Bearer Token](#authenticate-with-a-bearer-token)

Use a bearer token when you connect from your own code with an MCP client over Streamable HTTP, or when you choose token-based authentication in Microsoft Foundry.

1.  Obtain a bearer token from the [Authentication API](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/authentication-api).
2.  Send the token in the `Authorization` header of every request to the server:

```text
Authorization: Bearer <bearer_token_obtained_from_auth_api>
```

## [Example mcp.json Configuration](#example-mcpjson-configuration)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "morningstar": {
      "url": "https://mcp.morningstar.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <bearer_token_obtained_from_auth_api>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Treat your bearer token like a password. Don't commit it to source control or share it.

## [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)

-   **You are not prompted to sign in.** Confirm the connector or tool was added with the server URL `https://mcp.morningstar.com/mcp`, then try connecting again.
-   **Sign-in succeeds but requests are rejected.** Confirm your Morningstar account is licensed for the data you're requesting.
-   **Requests from your own code are rejected.** Confirm the `Authorization` header uses the `Bearer` prefix and that the token is current. If it has expired, obtain a new one from the Authentication API.