Connections
Connections give your AI tools from other apps and services, like your files, notes or calendar. They use MCP, an open standard many apps support. Your AI always asks you before it uses a tool.
Add a connection
- Find the app or service's instructions for MCP. They usually give a short block of setup text that starts with
{"mcpServers", or a web address. - In itokens, open Connections in the side bar and press Add a connection.
- Paste the text or the web address and press Check. itokens shows exactly what it will run or connect to.
- Press Add. itokens connects and lists what it can do.
A connection that runs on your Mac runs with your permissions, like any app you install. Add only connections from people or companies you trust.
When your AI uses a tool
Ask as usual, for example "What's on my calendar tomorrow?". When your AI wants to use a tool, a card shows which connection and tool, and what it will send:
- Allow once: this time only.
- Always allow: this tool will not ask again. You can undo it in Connections.
- Don't allow: your AI answers without it.
Under the answer, itokens lists the tools it used.
Switch off or remove
In Connections, each connection has a switch to turn it off, What can it do? to list its tools, and × (twice) to remove it. Tools you allowed always are listed there; press one to have itokens ask again.
Try one
These come from the MCP project itself. They need Node.js on your Mac (nodejs.org).
Your Documents folder: your AI can read and list files there (change the folder to the one you want).
{"mcpServers": {"documents": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/yourname/Documents"]}}}A memory: your AI can remember things between chats.
{"mcpServers": {"memory": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory"]}}}Good to know
- Some models use tools better than others. If yours cannot use tools, itokens says so and answers without them.
- Keys and tokens in a connection's setup are kept in your Mac's Keychain, never in itokens's files or backups. After a restore, the Connections page asks for them once.
- A connection may contact its own service (a calendar connection talks to your calendar provider). itokens itself sends nothing.