# MCP troubleshooting

> Fixes for common GetIntel MCP problems, matched to the exact error messages your agent shows, plus client-specific setup checks.

Source: https://getintel.ai/docs/mcp/troubleshooting/

Find the message your agent shows, then apply the fix.

## Error messages

| Message | Cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **401 Unauthorized** when connecting | The token is wrong, incomplete or revoked. | Create a new token in **Integrations** and paste it again, including the `Bearer ` prefix in the header. |
| Sign-in page doesn't open, or the client says auth is required | The client doesn't support MCP OAuth. | Use a token instead — see [Connect your agent](/docs/mcp/connect/#2-or-use-a-token). |
| Wrong brand | The connection or token was made on a different brand than the one you meant. | For a connection, disconnect it in the client and connect again, picking the other brand at approval. For a token, create a new one on the brand you want. |
| Actions tools missing | The connection or token is read-only. | For a connection, disconnect and reconnect, ticking **Also allow actions** at approval. For a token, create a new one with action access. |
| **MCP access needs an active GetIntel plan.** | The account has no active plan or trial. | Reactivate a plan, then retry. |
| **Monthly MCP read limit reached (N). Resets YYYY-MM-DD.** | You used this month's reads. | Wait for the reset or upgrade. Check usage any time with `get_usage`. |
| **This action needs the 'act' permission…** | The token is read-only. | Create a new token with action access and update your agent's config. |
| **Unknown tool: …** | The agent called a tool that doesn't exist. | Restart the agent so it reloads the tool list. |
| **topic N not found** | The topic id is wrong or the token is for another brand. | Ask the agent to call `get_topics` first and use an id from that list. |
| **No AI data for …** | The competitor name doesn't match how AI writes it. | Use a name exactly as it appears in `get_competitors` or `get_overview`. |
| **A scan ran recently — you can re-check again at …** | `recheck_technical` runs at most once an hour. | Wait until the time shown. |
| **Search Console** not connected | `get_search_console` needs the integration. | Connect Search Console in **Integrations**. |

## Client-specific checks

- **Claude.ai, ChatGPT, Claude Desktop:** check the connector is still listed under **Settings → Connectors**. If not, add it again — see [Claude.ai and ChatGPT](/docs/mcp/clients/claude-ai-and-chatgpt/).
- **Claude Code:** run `/mcp` to see whether `getintel` is connected. To replace a token, remove the server with `claude mcp remove getintel` and add it again.
- **Cursor:** after editing `~/.cursor/mcp.json`, check that **getintel** is enabled under **Settings → MCP**.
- **Codex CLI:** this bridges through `npx mcp-remote`, so Node.js must be installed. Restart the app after changing the config.

Still stuck? Send support the client you use, the exact error, and the time it happened.