What are Grok connectors? How xAI's connectors work and how to add a custom one (2026)
Published November 3, 2026 · By Port OS Team
Grok connectors let Grok, xAI's assistant, use other apps and services from inside a chat. Instead of only answering from what it knows, Grok can search your email, read a calendar, look something up in a repository, or turn off a light, by calling a connector.
This post explains what Grok connectors are, which ones come built in, and how to add your own custom connector. The example is Port OS, a remote MCP server for smart home devices, which we used to test Grok against ChatGPT, Claude and Meta Muse.
What is a Grok connector?
A Grok connector is a link between Grok and an outside service. Each connector gives Grok a set of tools, such as "search emails" or "turn off a device", that Grok can decide to call while it answers you.
Under the hood, connectors use the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard for connecting AI assistants to tools. A connector points Grok at an MCP server. The server tells Grok which tools exist, and Grok calls them when your request needs one. ChatGPT and Claude use the same protocol, so a service that works with one of them as a connector can usually be added to Grok too.
Where to find connectors in Grok
On grok.com, connectors live on the Plugins page at grok.com/connectors. The page has two tabs:
- Connectors: the services Grok can call. Connectors you have added appear under Connected, and the rest of the page lists featured connectors by category.
- Skills: reusable instructions for Grok, separate from connectors.
A New button at the top creates a connector, a skill or a bot.
Which connectors are built in?
The Featured section of the Plugins page lists ready-made connectors that you add with one click. When we checked on November 3, 2026, it included:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Productivity | Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Box, Notion, Canva |
| Developer | GitHub, Vercel, Netlify, Datadog, Mixpanel, Excalidraw |
| Commerce | Shopify, Stripe, Wix |
| Analytics and advertising | Google Cloud BigQuery, X Ads |
| Finance | Coinbase, Robinhood, Interactive Brokers, Webull, S&P Global |
The list changes as xAI adds partners. Anything that is not listed can still be added as a custom connector.
How to add a custom Grok connector
A custom connector needs only a name and the URL of a remote MCP server. Here is the process with Port OS as the example:
- Open grok.com/connectors.
- Click New, then Connector, then Custom ("Add your own custom connector").
- Enter a name, such as Port OS, and the MCP server URL,
https://api.portoperatingsystem.com/mcp. - Click Add Connector, then sign in to the service and approve the permissions it asks for.
The connector then appears under Connected:
The server must be reachable from the internet, because Grok calls it from xAI's cloud. A server running on localhost on your own computer will not work. For the full Port OS walkthrough, see how to connect Grok.
What a connector lets Grok do: a smart home example
With the Port OS connector added, we asked Grok to control a real house. It turned off the kitchen light in 9 seconds and started a Roborock robot vacuum in 9 seconds:
It also found the living room TV and started a YouTube video in 18 seconds:
Grok picked which connector tools to call on its own. When we asked for the "living room lights", which this house does not have, it searched rooms and devices, then asked which light we meant instead of guessing. That is the behaviour you want from a connector that can change things in the real world. We compared Grok with ChatGPT, Claude and Meta Muse on the same tasks in our smart home test.
Are Grok connectors safe?
A connector can only do what the service lets it do. When you add one, the service shows a sign-in and permission screen, and Grok receives only the access you approve. A few habits help:
- Add connectors only from services you trust, and check the server URL before you add it.
- Approve the smallest set of permissions you need. For Port OS you can uncheck permissions on the consent screen.
- Remove a connector you no longer use from the Plugins page. That stops Grok from calling it.
- For devices and money, prefer services that report what actually happened, so Grok does not claim a light is off when the command only queued.
Grok connectors compared with ChatGPT and Claude connectors
All three assistants now call these integrations connectors or apps, and all three use MCP for custom ones:
| Grok | ChatGPT | Claude | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where to add one | Plugins page, New → Connector → Custom | Plugins page, Add → Add custom MCP server | Customize → Connectors, Add custom connector |
| What you enter | Name and server URL | Name, server URL and authentication | Name and server URL |
| Setup guide | Connect Grok | Connect ChatGPT | Connect Claude |
Because the protocol is shared, one MCP server works across all three. We used the same Port OS server for every assistant in the test.
FAQ
What are connectors in Grok?
Connectors are integrations that let Grok call tools in other apps and services while it answers you, such as searching Gmail or controlling smart home devices. They are built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Does Grok support MCP?
Yes. A custom Grok connector is a remote MCP server: you give Grok the server's URL and sign in to it.
How do I add a custom connector to Grok?
Open grok.com/connectors, click New, choose Connector, then Custom. Enter a name and the MCP server URL, click Add Connector and sign in to the service.
Do I need Grok Premium for connectors?
Custom connectors worked in our test on an account that was not on Premium. Plans change, so check xAI's connector documentation for your account.
Can Grok control my smart home?
Yes, through a connector. With Port OS added, Grok can turn lights on and off, start a robot vacuum and play media on a TV, across brands such as Philips Hue, Roborock and Android TV. See how to connect Grok.