MCP client - OpenAI - verified
How to add an MCP server to OpenAI Agents SDK
Where to add MCP servers in OpenAI Agents SDK: In code: pass MCPServerStdio, MCPServerStreamableHttp or MCPServerSse instances to Agent(mcp_servers=[...]), or add a HostedMCPTool to the agent's tools. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE. Its docs do not say whether it handles OAuth for remote servers.
OpenAI Agents SDK homepage - OpenAI Agents SDK in our tools directory - Compare all MCP clients
- Kind
- SDK or framework
- stdio
- Yes
- Streamable HTTP
- Yes
- SSE
- Yes
Add a server
- Where the config lives
- In code: pass MCPServerStdio, MCPServerStreamableHttp or MCPServerSse instances to Agent(mcp_servers=[...]), or add a HostedMCPTool to the agent's tools
The OpenAI Agents SDK docs publish no copyable config example; servers are added through the steps above. The full walkthrough is in the official docs (openai.github.io).
Which server?
Pick a server from the verified directory of official MCP servers. Each one lists its transport, auth and the setup snippets its vendor publishes, so you can match it to what OpenAI Agents SDK supports.
MCP support
What the OpenAI Agents SDK docs say it supports. Not stated means the docs do not say either way.
| Feature | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ToolsCalls the functions a server exposes. | Yes | openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp |
| ResourcesReads data and files a server exposes as resources. | Yes | openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp |
| PromptsOffers a server's prompt templates to the user. | Yes | openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp |
| SamplingLets a server ask the client's model for a completion. | Not stated | Docs do not say |
| RootsTells a server which directories it may work in. | Not stated | Docs do not say |
| ElicitationLets a server ask the user for input mid-task. | Not stated | Docs do not say |
| DiscoveryPicks up tools, prompts or resources a server adds or removes while connected. | Not stated | Docs do not say |
| InstructionsUses the instructions a server sends when it connects. | Not stated | Docs do not say |
| stdioStarts a local server as a subprocess. | Yes | openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp |
| Streamable HTTPConnects to a remote server over the current HTTP transport. | Yes | openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp |
| SSEConnects over the older HTTP+SSE transport. | Yes | openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp |
| OAuthSigns in to remote servers with OAuth. | Not stated | Docs do not say |
Worth knowing
Besides local server classes, HostedMCPTool lets the OpenAI Responses API list and call a remote MCP server's tools on the model's behalf.
Other SDKs and frameworks
FAQ
Where is the OpenAI Agents SDK MCP config?
In code: pass MCPServerStdio, MCPServerStreamableHttp or MCPServerSse instances to Agent(mcp_servers=[...]), or add a HostedMCPTool to the agent's tools. Its docs publish no copyable config example; setup steps are at https://openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp/
Does OpenAI Agents SDK support remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP?
Yes, per https://openai.github.io/openai-agents-python/mcp/. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE.
Does OpenAI Agents SDK support OAuth for MCP servers?
Its docs do not say whether it handles OAuth for remote servers.
Which MCP features does OpenAI Agents SDK support?
Its docs list Tools, Resources and Prompts. They do not state Sampling, Roots, Elicitation, Discovery and Instructions.
Sources
Last verified from the pages below.
- OpenAI Agents SDK docs: Model context protocol (MCP) - openai.github.io
- OpenAI Agents SDK reference: MCP servers - openai.github.io
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