> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xpressbot.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Workspace MCP Tool Catalog

> Every tool the Workspace MCP server can offer, grouped by area, with its description, mode, and required permission.

## What is this?

The full catalog of tools the [Workspace MCP server](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/overview.md) can expose to a connected client (Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or any other MCP client), one page per area.

This exact list — same names, same descriptions, same order — is always visible live in-app under **Developer → Reference → MCP**, generated from the same tool registry as this page. A given API key's actual available tools are narrower: only tools whose required permission the key's owner holds are ever offered, re-checked on every call, and only inside the one channel the connection was made for.

> [!NOTE]
>
> MCP must be enabled on your installation and included in your plan. Without it the Developer Portal's MCP tab is hidden or shows an **Upgrade** badge, and the server answers `403`.
>
> Only non-destructive tools are ever exposed over MCP — nothing that deletes or cancels something permanently is offered here, no matter what permissions the key has. Every **Write** tool also needs your MCP client's own approval step before it runs (the same tool-approval prompt any MCP client shows), on top of your workspace permissions.

## What can I do here?

* Look up which tools an assistant gets once connected, before you connect it
* Check which permission a team member needs for a given tool to appear for their API key
* See which tools are **Write** (need your client's approval before running) versus **Read** (run immediately)
* See which tools reach customers (they are labelled **Reaches customers** in the Developer Portal): sending a template or Direct Send message, creating a campaign, triggering or activating an automation, and publishing an AI agent

## Tool areas

| Area | Tools | What it covers |
| - | - | - |
| [Workspace & team](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/workspace-and-team.md) | 6 | Workspace overview, channels, team members, activity, connected networks |
| [Inbox & conversations](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/inbox.md) | 9 | Conversations, messages, notes, saved replies, close and hand off |
| [Contacts & CRM](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/contacts.md) | 16 | Contacts, labels, custom fields, pipelines, bulk changes |
| [Automations](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/automations.md) | 10 | List, build, update, activate, pause, runs, trigger |
| [WhatsApp](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/whatsapp.md) | 10 | Templates, Direct Send, campaigns, template and Flow drafts |
| [Instagram](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/instagram.md) | 1 | Referral links |
| [Telegram](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/telegram.md) | 3 | Campaigns, results and groups |
| [TikTok](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/tiktok.md) | 1 | Posts |
| [Web Chat](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/web-chat.md) | 2 | Visitors and Help Center |
| [AI agents](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/ai-agents.md) | 21 | Build, configure, test and publish agents; external tools |
| [Storefront & orders](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/storefront.md) | 4 | Catalog, products, orders |
| [Events](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/events.md) | 5 | Events, availability, registrations, tickets |
| [Booking Studio](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/booking-studio.md) | 6 | Services, free times, bookings |
| [Product docs](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/tools/docs.md) | 2 | Search and read the documentation |

## Troubleshooting / Technical Notes

* **A tool I expect isn't in the list the assistant sees.** The MCP server only offers tools whose required permission the API key's owner holds, re-checked on every call — grant the permission in the "Permission needed" column above (see [Team](https://docs.xpressbot.org/workspace/team.md)), then reconnect or retry.
* **A tool that changes something (Write) isn't in this catalog at all.** Some write actions — anything that deletes or cancels permanently, such as cancelling an event registration — are never exposed over MCP by design and stay dashboard-only, regardless of permissions.
* **A Write tool call seems to hang or never take effect.** Your MCP client (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code) asks you to approve each Write tool call before it runs — check for a pending approval prompt in your client.
* **`create_ai_agent`, `create_automation`, or `build_ai_agent` worked but the agent or automation isn't answering customers.** By design: new AI agents and automations are created inactive (as drafts). Test the agent in the dashboard Playground, run `check_agent_readiness`, then use `publish_ai_agent`; or review the flow in the dashboard and use `activate_automation`. Publishing and activating only happen when you explicitly ask.
* **`update_automation` is refused.** It only replaces the flow of an automation that is **off** and has no runs in progress. Use `pause_automation` first, then retry. Automations using steps it can't describe (payments, catalog, carousels, Google Sheets / Calendar, Shopify / WooCommerce, sequences) are built in the dashboard flow builder.
* **`update_agent_settings` won't turn guardrails off.** Over MCP, guardrails can only be switched on. Turning them off is a dashboard action, so a tool result or document the assistant reads can never talk it into removing the safety checks.
* **`test_ai_agent` used AI credits.** It runs the real agent, so each test message costs credits like a customer message would. It acts on a labelled test contact only; set `endSession` on the last turn to remove that contact.
* **A tool I added with `add_external_capability` is off.** If the MCP server refused the login (or needed one and none was given), its tools are saved as `needs_credentials` and stay off until you add the login under the agent's [External Capabilities](https://docs.xpressbot.org/workspace/ai-agents/tabs/external-capabilities.md) in the dashboard. `list_external_capabilities` shows the status.
* **`update_ai_agent` replaced instructions I wanted to keep.** `systemInstructions` replaces the whole text. Read the current instructions with `get_ai_agent` first and send the complete new text.
* **`set_handoff_assignment` changed other agents.** The handoff recipients are a setting of the whole channel, shared by every AI agent on it. Turning handoff on or off for one agent is `set_agent_capability` with `handoff_to_human`.
* **`direct_send` is rejected.** Direct Send is a Meta beta and is restricted per WhatsApp Business Account; it only covers utility and authentication messages, never marketing. If a matching approved template exists, use `send_template`.
* **The list here doesn't match what I see in-app.** It should always match — both come from the same tool registry. If they differ, refresh the Developer Portal's MCP tab and tell us.

## Related docs

* [Workspace MCP](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/workspace/overview.md)
* [MCP introduction](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/introduction.md)
* [Authentication](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/authentication.md)
* [Rate limits](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/rate-limits.md)
* [Errors](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/errors.md)
* [Platform MCP](https://docs.xpressbot.org/api-reference/mcp/platform/overview.md)
* [Developer Portal](https://docs.xpressbot.org/workspace/developer-portal.md)
* [Team](https://docs.xpressbot.org/workspace/team.md)


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