Enabling the AI (MCP) Integration and Connecting an AI Client

SureRank supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which lets AI clients such as Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor connect directly to a WordPress site and read or update SEO settings, page and term metadata, SEO checks, sitemap configuration, and robots.txt through SureRank. This document covers turning the integration on and connecting a compatible AI client to it.

Note: This doc applies to SureRank 1.8.2 and later. Earlier versions do not include the MCP settings screen.

What This Integration Does

Once enabled, MCP exposes the following SEO abilities to a connected AI client:

An AI client with these abilities can, for example, audit a batch of posts for missing meta descriptions and update them, adjust sitemap or robots.txt rules, or pull SEO check results for a page, all through natural-language requests to the connected client instead of the SureRank admin screens.

Important: Every ability still enforces the manage_options capability check on the WordPress side. Connecting an AI client only works with an account that has Administrator-level permissions.

How to Enable MCP

1. Go to WordPress Dashboard → SureRank → Tools → MCP.
2. Turn on Enable MCP.
3. If the WP MCP Adapter plugin isn’t detected on the site, an inline warning titled “MCP Adapter plugin not detected” appears, explaining that the WP MCP Adapter plugin is required to connect AI clients. Select Download from GitHub, then install it the usual way:
   • Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
   • Upload the downloaded mcp-adapter.zip file.
   • Select Install Now, then Activate.
4. Return to SureRank → Tools → MCP. Once the adapter is active, the warning disappears and the Connect Your AI Client panel appears below the toggle.

Note: Turning Enable MCP off immediately stops all abilities from being registered. No AI client can connect or read/write data while it’s off.

Connecting an AI Client

The Connect Your AI Client panel generates a ready-to-use connection config. It uses your existing WordPress login and an Application Password. SureRank does not generate a separate API key or token for MCP.

Step 1: Create an Application Password

Select Open Application Passwords in the panel (opens Users → Profile → Application Passwords), and generate a new password. Copy it; it’s only shown once.

Step 2: Choose a Connection Scope

Use the tabs above the generated config:

• SureRank Only: connects to SureRank’s abilities alone, at https://yoursite.com/wp-json/surerank/v1/mcp.
• Global: connects to every WordPress ability exposed through the WP MCP Adapter’s default server (including other plugins that register abilities), at https://yoursite.com/wp-json/mcp/mcp-adapter-default-server.

Step 3: Copy the Generated Config

Use the copy icon in the top-right of the code block:

{

  "mcpServers": {

    "yoursite-com-surerank": {

      "command": "npx",

      "args": [ "-y", "@automattic/mcp-wordpress-remote@latest" ],

      "env": {

        "WP_API_URL": "https://yoursite.com/wp-json/surerank/v1/mcp",

        "WP_API_USERNAME": "your-wp-username",

        "WP_API_PASSWORD": "your-application-password"

      }

    }

  }

}

{

  "mcpServers": {

    "yoursite-com-surerank": {

      "command": "npx",

      "args": [ "-y", "@automattic/mcp-wordpress-remote@latest" ],

      "env": {

        "WP_API_URL": "https://yoursite.com/wp-json/surerank/v1/mcp",

        "WP_API_USERNAME": "your-wp-username",

        "WP_API_PASSWORD": "your-application-password"

      }

    }

  }

}

Replace “your-application-password” with the Application Password from Step 1.

Step 4: Add the Config to Your AI Client

If a config file already lists other MCP servers, add this entry alongside them rather than replacing the file. For VS Code, nest the entry under a servers key instead of mcpServers.

Tip: Select the sparkle icon next to the code block to copy a setup prompt instead of raw JSON. It’s written to be pasted into an AI coding assistant (like Claude Code or Cursor) so it can locate the right config file for your OS and client and apply the change for you.

Expected Outcome

After the config is added (and the client restarted, if required), the AI client can list and call SureRank’s MCP tools, for example retrieving a post’s SEO title/description or updating robots.txt rules, using the account whose Application Password was used to connect.

Settings Explained

Notes and Limitations

• MCP access always uses standard WordPress Application Passwords. There’s no SureRank-specific API key to manage. Revoking access means deleting the Application Password under Users → Profile → Application Passwords.
• The WP MCP Adapter plugin must stay active for either scope to work, even though SureRank’s toggle is what registers the abilities.
• All abilities require an Administrator-level account.
• Copying the config or prompt uses the browser clipboard API, which requires HTTPS (or localhost).

Troubleshooting

“MCP Adapter plugin not detected” keeps showing after installing it Confirm it’s activated under Plugins → Installed Plugins, not just uploaded.

The AI client can’t connect after adding the config Verify the Application Password (not account password) was used, Enable MCP is on, and the account is an Administrator.

The copy button doesn’t do anything. The admin page likely isn’t served over HTTPS; copy the config manually instead.