---
url: 'https://docs.workato.com/en/agentic/skills/mcp-server-skills.md'
description: >-
  Add MCP server skills to a genie so it can call custom and common provider MCP
  servers and access external APIs without custom skill logic.
---

# MCP server skills {: #mcp-server-skills :}

[Skills](/en/agentic/skills.md) can consume [MCP servers](/en/mcp.md). Skills can call custom MCP servers and common provider MCP servers. This enables you to perform the following actions:

* Access external APIs
* Integrate with third-party tools without requiring custom skill development
* Call Workato-hosted [MCP servers](/en/mcp.md) and external MCP servers from a genie

## Add MCP server skills to a genie {: #add-mcp-server-skills-to-a-genie :}

The tools in your MCP server can be used as skills. Refer to [Create skills](/en/agentic/agent-studio/create-a-genie.md#create-skills) for more information.

Complete the following steps to add MCP server skills to your genie:

<Stepper>

<Step>

Sign in to Workato.

</Step>

<Step>

Go to **AI Hub > Agent Studio**.

</Step>

<Step>

Select the genie to edit.

</Step>

<Step>

Click **Edit**.

</Step>

<Step>

Go to the **Enterprise skills** section and click **+ Add**.

</Step>

<Step>

Select **MCP server**.

</Step>

<Step>

Select a common provider MCP server or click **+ Custom MCP server**.

![Select an MCP server option](/images/workato-genie/add-mcp-server.png)*Select an MCP server option*

</Step>

<Step>

Configure your MCP server:

:::: tabs type:border-card

::: tab Custom MCP server id="custom-mcp-server"

#### Add skills from a custom MCP server {: #add-skills-from-a-custom-mcp-server :}

<Stepper>

<Step>

Click **+ Custom MCP server > Next**.

</Step>

<Step>

Provide a name for your MCP server connection in the **Connection name** field.

![Set up your MCP server connection](/images/workato-genie/add-a-custom-mcp-server.png)*Set up your MCP server connection*

</Step>

<Step>

Use the **Location** drop-down menu to select a location for your MCP server connection.

</Step>

<Step>

Provide your MCP server URL in the **MCP Server URL** field.

</Step>

<Step>

Use the **Authentication Type** drop-down menu to select your authentication method provide the necessary credentials. OAuth2 authentication is required if you plan to use [Workato Identity for your MCP server authentication](/en/mcp/mcp-authentication.md#oauth2-authentication-with-workato-identity).

</Step>

<Step>

Click **Connect**.

</Step>

<Step>

Select the checkbox for each tool you plan to add as a skill to your genie.

![Select MCP server tools](/images/workato-genie/select-mcp-server-tools.png)*Select MCP server tools*

</Step>

<Step>

Click **Done**. The MCP server tools you selected display in the **Enterprise skills** section on your genie **Overview** page.

</Step>

</Stepper>

:::

::: tab Common provider MCP server id="common-provider-mcp-server"

#### Add skills from a common provider MCP server {: #add-skills-from-a-common-provider-mcp-server :}

<Stepper>

<Step>

Select the common provider MCP server you plan to use.

</Step>

<Step>

Click **Next**.

</Step>

<Step>

Provide a name for your MCP server connection in the **Connection name** field.

</Step>

<Step>

Use the **Location** drop-down menu to select a location for your MCP server connection.

</Step>

<Step>

Complete the remaining connection fields. These fields vary by provider and authentication method.

![Atlassian provider MCP server](/images/workato-genie/atlassian-provider-mcp-server-example.png)*Atlassian provider MCP server*

</Step>

<Step>

Click **Connect**.

</Step>

<Step>

Select the checkbox for each tool you plan to add as a skill to your genie.

![Select MCP server tools](/images/workato-genie/select-mcp-server-tools.png)*Select MCP server tools*

</Step>

<Step>

Click **Done**. The MCP server tools you selected display in the **Enterprise skills** section on your genie **Overview** page.

</Step>

</Stepper>

:::

::::

</Step>

</Stepper>