Install the Arcade agent plugin

For agent developers, the Arcade plugin connects your coding agent or desktop client to apps through Arcade’s hosted gateway. Sign in with your Arcade account. You don’t need an key or a gateway configuration.

Outcomes

Install the Arcade plugin in a supported client and connect to its hosted gateway.

Prerequisites

A supported client: Cursor, Claude Code, VS Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, Codex, or Claude Desktop
An Arcade
For Claude Code, Claude Cowork, Cursor CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI, and VS Code Copilot sessions: Node.js on the host’s PATH

Install

Claude Code

Use Claude Code 2.1.292 or later , or expand the earlier-version instructions.

Install Arcade:

Terminal


claude plugin install arcade --marketplace ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin

Run /reload-plugins if Claude Code is already open.
Open /mcp, select arcade, and sign in to Arcade in the browser when prompted.
Run /arcade:try-arcade to start.

Earlier Claude Code versions

Use these commands for step 1:

Terminal


claude plugin marketplace add ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin
claude plugin install arcade@arcade

Codex

Use this installation for a Codex session in the CLI or ChatGPT desktop app .

Add the Arcade marketplace and install the plugin:

Terminal


codex plugin marketplace add ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin
codex plugin add arcade@arcade

Start a new Codex session in the CLI or ChatGPT desktop app.
Open /plugins and confirm Arcade is installed and enabled.
Connect the arcade server and sign in to Arcade in the browser when prompted.
Choose @Arcade or invoke $arcade:try-arcade to start.

Cursor

Team marketplace

An admin opens Dashboard → Plugins & MCPs → Team Marketplaces → Add Marketplace → Import from Repo and pastes https://github.com/ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin.
The admin adds Arcade to the marketplace and sets access in Marketplace Settings. For automatic updates from GitHub, enable Auto Refresh and install the Cursor GitHub App on the repository.
Open Customize, find Arcade, and select Install.
Connect the arcade server and sign in to Arcade in the browser when prompted.
Run /try-arcade to start.

See Cursor’s marketplace instructions for access and refresh settings.

Local installation

For an individual plan, or a Teams or Enterprise plan with Allow Local Plugin Imports enabled:

Clone the plugin into Cursor’s local plugin directory:

Terminal


git clone https://github.com/ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin ~/.cursor/plugins/local/arcade-plugin

Run Developer: Reload Window.
Open Customize and confirm Arcade is present.
Connect the arcade server and sign in to Arcade in the browser when prompted.
Run /try-arcade to start.

Keep the clone inside ~/.cursor/plugins/local/. Cursor ignores symlinks to folders outside that directory. To update, run git pull in the clone and Developer: Reload Window.

VS Code

Open the Command Palette and select Chat: Install Plugin From Source.

Paste the repository URL:

TEXT


https://github.com/ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin

Turn on chat.plugins.enabled if needed, then reload VS Code.
Confirm Arcade appears under Plugins → Installed.
Run : List Servers, select arcade, and choose Start Server.
Sign in when prompted, then return to VS Code and continue the original task.
Run /arcade:try-arcade to start.

Copilot CLI

Install with Copilot CLI’s plugin command:
Terminal
```
copilot plugin install ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin
```
Restart the session or run /restart.
Connect the arcade server and sign in to Arcade in the browser when prompted.
Run /try-arcade to start.

Claude Desktop

Requires a paid Claude plan . On Team or Enterprise, your organization must allow this marketplace.

Open Customize → Plugins → Add → Add marketplace → Add from a repository.
Paste ArcadeAI/arcade-plugin.
Add Arcade from the marketplace.
Open Arcade → Connectors, then add and connect arcade if it is not connected. Sign in to Arcade when prompted.
Start a new conversation and ask “What can Arcade do?”

On Team or Enterprise, an Owner may need to add the connector for your organization before you can connect it with your .

Use this flow for Desktop Chat and Cowork. Installing from the Claude Code command line does not add the plugin to your Claude account .

Other

Your client must support remote HTTP servers and browser sign-in. This connection includes only; it does not install the plugin’s skills, subagent, or commands.

Add an HTTP server with this URL in your client’s MCP settings:
TEXT
```
https://api.arcade.dev/mcp/arcade
```
Sign in to Arcade in the browser when prompted, then return to your client.

Connect apps

Gateway sign-in and app authorization are separate. After connecting the gateway during installation, ask your to use an app. If the app needs authorization, follow the browser sign-in link and approve the required permissions.

Return to your after sign-in and continue the task. To manage connections, ask “Show my connected apps” or “Connect Google.”

Some tools require a provider or another secret. See default-project setup before using those .

Next steps

What’s included: plugin components and client support
Connect to MCP clients: configure a client against a gateway you control
Integrations catalog: every app and toolkit Arcade supports
Agentic development: point your at these docs with llms.txt

About Arcade What's included