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ChatGPT Desktop

ChatGPT Desktop's MCP support requires a remote endpoint. It doesn't support local stdio servers directly. Here's how to connect it.

The mcp package can expose a stdio server over SSE (Server-Sent Events):

.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m mcp.server.sse --port 8765 -- python server.py

Then in ChatGPT Desktop:

  1. Open Settings > Connected Apps > Add MCP Server
  2. Enter: http://localhost:8765/sse

This process must be running whenever you use ChatGPT Desktop with the brain.

Option B: Tunnel via ngrok

For access from other devices (e.g. ChatGPT mobile):

# 1. Install ngrok
winget install ngrok

# 2. Start the SSE proxy
.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m mcp.server.sse --port 8765 -- python server.py

# 3. Tunnel it
ngrok http 8765

# 4. Use the https://xxxx.ngrok.io/sse URL in ChatGPT Desktop

Auto-Capture Instructions

ChatGPT Desktop uses Custom Instructions for persistent behavior:

  1. Open Settings (gear icon) > Personalization > Custom Instructions
  2. Paste the contents of prompts/generic-system-prompt.md into the "What would you like ChatGPT to know?" field

This tells ChatGPT to silently capture and recall memories using the Open Brain tools.