# My AI assistant can't reach Blinkhop. What should I check?

> Check the server URL, the transport type, the config file and the status page. A short checklist for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code and Windsurf.

Source: https://blinkhop.com/help/mcp-troubleshooting

Check that your client uses the exact URL `https://mcp.blinkhop.com/mcp` with the HTTP transport, restart the client, and look at the [status page](https://blinkhop.com/status). Most connection problems come from a typo in the URL, the wrong transport or a config file in the wrong place.

## MCP connection checklist

1. **Status.** The status page shows live checks of redirects, the API and the MCP server.
2. **URL.** It must be exactly `https://mcp.blinkhop.com/mcp`, with `https` and the `/mcp` path.
3. **Transport.** Blinkhop is a remote server that uses Streamable HTTP, so there is nothing to install or run locally. In Claude Code, use `--transport http`. In VS Code, set `"type": "http"`.
4. **Config keys.** Cursor uses `mcpServers` with `url`. VS Code uses `servers` with `type` and `url`. Windsurf uses `mcpServers` with `serverUrl`.
5. **File location.** Cursor reads `~/.cursor/mcp.json`, VS Code reads `.vscode/mcp.json` in your project, and Windsurf reads `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`. One missing comma or bracket makes the whole file invalid.
6. **ChatGPT.** Turn on developer mode under **Settings → Connectors → Advanced** before you add the URL.
7. **Restart.** Restart or reload your client after you change its configuration.
8. **Limits.** The server allows 120 calls per minute and 5,000 per day per IP address. If you hit a limit, wait and try again.
9. **Network.** A company proxy or firewall can block `mcp.blinkhop.com`. Tor and VPNs are fine: there are no captchas or bot walls in front of the MCP server.

## Test the server from a terminal

If you open the URL in a browser, you may see an error instead of a page. That's expected, because MCP clients talk to the server with POST requests. To test the server, ask it for its tools:

```bash
curl https://mcp.blinkhop.com/mcp \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/list"}'
```

The response should list `shorten_link`, `shorten_links` and `expand_link`. If it does, the server is reachable and the problem is in your client's setup. [How do I connect Blinkhop to Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor?](https://blinkhop.com/help/connect-claude-chatgpt-cursor) has the exact steps for each client.

Still stuck? [Contact us](https://blinkhop.com/contact) with your client's name and the error it shows.