---
title: "Command Palette"
description: "Powerful search and navigation with the command palette"
icon: "search"
---

The command palette (`Cmd/Ctrl + K`) is your gateway to rapid navigation and action execution in the MCP Inspector. Search and access tools, servers, saved requests, and more with a few keystrokes.

## Opening the Command Palette

Press **`Cmd/Ctrl + K`** (or **`Ctrl + K`** on Windows/Linux) from anywhere in the inspector.

<Note>
The command palette works even when input fields are focused, making it always accessible.
</Note>

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/inspector/command-palette-empty.png" alt="Command Palette Initial View" />
</Frame>

## Search Functionality

The command palette provides fuzzy search across all available items:

- **Tool names** and descriptions
- **Prompt names** and descriptions
- **Resource names** and URIs
- **Saved request names**
- **Server names**
- **Global commands**

Type to filter results in real-time. The search matches:
- Beginning of words
- Partial matches
- Descriptions and metadata

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/inspector/command-palette-search.png" alt="Command Palette Search Results" />
</Frame>

## Available Actions

### Connect to Server

**Action:** "Connect Server"

Navigate to the dashboard to add a new MCP server connection.

**Use cases:**
- Quick access to connection form
- Adding new servers
- Starting new debugging sessions

### Search and Execute Tools

**Action:** Select any tool from search results

Navigate directly to a tool and execute it.

**Workflow:**
1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl + K`
2. Type tool name
3. Select tool from results
4. Inspector navigates to Tools tab with tool selected
5. Enter arguments and execute

### Navigate to Saved Requests

**Action:** Select a saved request

Load a saved request with its arguments pre-filled.

**Workflow:**
1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl + K`
2. Type saved request name
3. Select from "Saved Requests" category
4. Inspector navigates to Tools tab with request loaded

### Quick Server Switching

**Action:** Select a server from "Connected Servers"

Switch to a different server's detail view.

**Workflow:**
1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl + K`
2. Type server name or URL
3. Select server from results
4. Inspector navigates to that server's view

### Add to Client

**Actions:** "Open in Cursor", "Open in Claude Code", "Open in Claude Desktop", "Open in VS Code", "Open in Gemini CLI", "Open in Codex CLI"

Quickly add the current MCP server to various AI clients and code editors. Each action provides the appropriate installation method:

- **Cursor & VS Code**: Deep links that open the client's MCP installation dialog
- **Claude Desktop**: Downloads a `.mcpb` configuration file
- **Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI**: Copies CLI commands or configuration to clipboard

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/inspector/cmd-k-add-to-client.png" alt="Add to Client commands in Command Palette" />
</Frame>

You can also access these options via the "Add to Client" dropdown button in the header:

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/inspector/add-to-client-dropdown.png" alt="Add to Client dropdown menu" />
</Frame>

**Workflow:**
1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl + K`
2. Type "Open in" or the client name (e.g., "Cursor", "VS Code")
3. Select the desired client
4. Follow the installation instructions (deep link opens automatically, or command/config is copied to clipboard)

### Documentation Links

Access documentation and resources:

- **"MCP Use Website"**: Opens mcp-use.com
- **"How to Create an MCP Server"**: Opens documentation
- **"MCP Official Documentation"**: Opens Model Context Protocol docs

### Community Links

- **"Join Discord Community"**: Opens Discord server

## Categories

Results are organized into categories for easy navigation:

### Navigation

Global navigation actions like "Connect Server".

### Open in Client

Quick actions to add the current MCP server to various AI clients and code editors. Each client has its own icon for easy identification.

### Connected Servers

All currently connected MCP servers with their status.

**Display format:**
- Server name
- Connection status indicator
- Server URL

### Tools

All available tools from connected servers, grouped by server.

**Display format:**
- Tool name
- Tool description
- Server name badge

### Prompts

All available prompts from connected servers, grouped by server.

**Display format:**
- Prompt name
- Prompt description
- Server name badge

### Resources

All available resources from connected servers, grouped by server.

**Display format:**
- Resource name
- Resource description
- Server name badge

### Saved Requests

All saved tool execution requests.

**Display format:**
- Request name
- Associated tool name
- Server name badge

### Documentation

Links to external documentation and resources.

### Community

Links to community resources like Discord.

## Keyboard Navigation

Navigate the command palette with your keyboard:

- **Arrow Keys**: Move up/down through results
- **Enter**: Select highlighted item
- **Esc**: Close command palette
- **Tab**: (Future: Navigate between categories)

## Visual Indicators

The command palette uses icons to identify item types:

- 🔧 **Wrench**: Tools
- 💬 **Message**: Prompts
- 📄 **File**: Resources
- 🕐 **Clock**: Saved requests
- ➕ **Plus**: Navigation actions
- 🔗 **Link**: External links
- 💬 **Discord**: Community links
- 🖥️ **Server**: Server connections
- **Client Icons**: Each "Open in Client" command displays the client's icon (Cursor, Claude, VS Code, Gemini, Codex)

## Tips and Tricks

### Quick Tool Execution

1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl + K`
2. Type tool name (e.g., "create issue")
3. Press `Enter`
4. Tool is selected, ready for execution

### Finding Saved Requests

1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl + K`
2. Type part of request name
3. Look in "Saved Requests" category
4. Select to load

### Server Switching

1. Press `Cmd/Ctrl + K`
2. Type server name or URL
3. Select from "Connected Servers"
4. Instantly switch context

### Fuzzy Search

The search is forgiving - you don't need exact matches:

- "lin iss" matches "Linear Create Issue"
- "get" matches "get_user", "get_project", etc.
- Partial descriptions work too

### Category Filtering

Results are automatically grouped by category. Look for:
- Server-specific groupings (e.g., "Tools - Linear")
- Global categories (e.g., "Navigation", "Documentation")

## Advanced Usage

### Multi-Server Search

When multiple servers are connected, search results show which server each item belongs to:

- Tools are grouped by server
- Server name badges appear on items
- Filter by server name in search

### Quick Access Patterns

**Common workflows:**

1. **Tool Testing**: `Cmd/Ctrl + K` → type tool → `Enter` → execute
2. **Saved Request**: `Cmd/Ctrl + K` → type request → `Enter` → execute
3. **Server Switch**: `Cmd/Ctrl + K` → type server → `Enter`
4. **New Connection**: `Cmd/Ctrl + K` → "Connect Server" → `Enter`

## Related Documentation

- [Keyboard Shortcuts](/inspector/keyboard-shortcuts) - All available shortcuts
- [Overview](/inspector/index) - Saved requests and other features
- [Getting Started](/inspector/index) - Basic inspector usage

