Overview
You can host an MCP server in a new or existing ChatGPT Site and use its tools through a plugin in ChatGPT.
For example, you could create a Site with a team handbook, then ask ChatGPT to add an MCP server with tools for searching and accessing the handbook.
ChatGPT then builds a plugin you can use in other workflows. In Business or Enterprise workspaces, you can also share it with other workspace members.
Availability
To host a plugin, you need access to ChatGPT Sites and permission to create the plugin. For Sites availability, see: Creating and using ChatGPT Sites.
In Business and Enterprise workspaces, Sites publishing and plugin permissions are separate controls. See the Share access with your workspace section below.
Before you begin
Use a Site you own, or work with its owner. The owner must publish the Site to create its plugin initially.
Choose the information and actions the tools should expose. Review the Site's contents and tool behavior before giving other people access.
Decide whether your tools should only read information or also make changes. Include only the actions the intended users need.
If the tools need an external API, get its documentation and check how the Site will connect to it. Confirm that the service allows the Site to access the data and actions the tools need. Connecting the plugin in ChatGPT is a separate step.
If access to the source system is not ready, use sample data to build and test the tools. Complete the required connection before testing with live data.
If you’re in a workspace, ask your administrator to turn on the permissions below so you can create and use the plugin.
To find them, your administrator can go to Workspace settings > Permissions & roles and select your role.
Use plugins: On by default in Enterprise workspaces.
Upload plugins: Off by default in Enterprise workspaces.
Create plugins with MCPs: Off by default in Enterprise workspaces.
Your role needs a different permission for each way of sharing:
Share plugins lets you invite coworkers.
Publish plugins to workspace lets you list the plugin in the workspace directory.
For general Site creation and publishing, see: Creating and using ChatGPT Sites. For plugin creation, installation, and workspace controls, see: Plugins in ChatGPT and Codex.
Add tools to a Site
Start a new Site or open the Site you want to extend.
Ask ChatGPT or Codex to add an MCP server to the Site. Describe the information the tools should read and any changes they should be able to make.
Review the tools and test their behavior with sample data before sharing access.
Have the Site owner publish the Site to create the associated plugin. If the Site is already published, have the owner publish it again after adding the tools.
For example, if you have built an existing project dashboard, you could ask Codex to “Add tools to this project dashboard so my team can read milestones and update their status from chat.”
Install and connect the plugin
After the owner publishes the Site with its MCP server, ChatGPT or Codex shows a plugin card for you to review and install.
Select Install on the new plugin's card.
Complete the connection flow for your account.
Mention the plugin in a ChatGPT or Codex chat on a supported surface.
Ask a question its tools can answer, such as “Summarize the milestones shown on my project dashboard.”
Check the response against the Site. If you added a tool that makes changes, try a sample update and open the Site to verify the result.
For plugins you created, you can also go to Plugins, select Personal, then select Created by you.
Complete any required authorization for connected services after installing the plugin. Follow your workspace’s access rules and any approval requests shown when you use a tool. For details, see: Managing app permissions in ChatGPT.
Using the plugin
Mention the plugin in a chat window and prompt it for answers.
Share access with your workspace
In a Business or Enterprise workspace, you can share your plugin with coworkers. Each coworker needs to:
Have access to the plugin and its Site.
Install the plugin.
Complete their own connection.
Pro and personal-account users can’t currently share their Site-hosted plugin directly with other ChatGPT users through invitations or a share link.
Sharing the Site itself doesn’t share its plugin.
Go to Plugins.
Select Personal, then Created by you.
Open your plugin and select Share.
Add your coworkers and select Invite.
When prompted, give them viewer access to the Site.
Copy the plugin share link and send it to them.
Sharing the plugin doesn’t let coworkers edit it or publish it to the workspace directory. Each coworker still needs the permissions and authorization required by connected apps.
Before sharing, check what information each tool can access and what actions it can perform. If a tool can make changes, share it only with people who need that access.
Update your tools
Ask ChatGPT or Codex to change the tools on the existing Site. For example: “Add a tool to export the dashboard’s data as a CSV.”
Check that Codex updated both the Site and the plugin.
Publish the Site before using the new action.
Check that the plugin shows the expected tools, then test an affected action.
Troubleshoot setup and updates
No plugin appears after publishing
Confirm that the Site includes MCP tools and that its owner published the Site to create the plugin. If an editor added the tools, ask the owner to publish the Site.
Then check whether the plugin includes the new tools. The owner can also ask Codex to confirm that the plugin has the latest tools.
The plugin is installed but disconnected
Open the plugin and select Connect if shown, then complete the connection flow. If installation or connection was interrupted, return to the plugin card and try the incomplete step again. For general connection help, see: Connecting and managing app accounts in ChatGPT.
A coworker cannot use the tools
Check that your coworker:
Has access to the plugin.
Has viewer access to the Site.
Has installed the plugin.
Has completed their own connection.
Also check connected-app and workspace restrictions. Sharing access alone does not complete installation or authorization.
New or changed tools are missing
Make sure the updated Site is published and the owner’s connection is active. Check the plugin’s tool list, then test the tool you changed.