Summary
This article collects the questions we hear most often about MCP Plugins - the feature that lets Pi use tools and data from external applications such as Slack, Google Drive and GitHub
Questions are grouped by audience: general, for Users, and for Admins
Who is this article for?
Planhat Admins with questions about setting up and managing MCP Plugins
General Planhat Users who have questions about using an MCP Plugin with Pi
Series
Planhat OS - MCP Plugins: FAQs ⬅️ You are here
Article contents
🚀 Tip
Make sure you read over the articles in the MCP Plugins series, and follow the instructions within those articles, as these will answer a lot of questions.
General questions
Q: Is this the same as connecting Claude (or ChatGPT) to Planhat via Planhat's MCP server?
A: No - that is the reverse direction (an external AI reading Planhat through Planhat's MCP server). MCP Plugins are Pi, inside Planhat, using tools from external applications. Both can be used together
Q: Can Pi write to Slack or Drive, or only read?
A: Where the MCP Plugin includes write tools, yes it can write - for example, creating or updating a Google Doc or Google Sheet in Drive. Write capabilities depend on what the external application exposes and can be more limited than read
Q: Can I ask Pi questions from inside Slack?
A: Not with MCP Plugins. This feature brings Slack (and other apps) into Planhat, not the other way round. Starting a process from a Slack message, or chatting with Pi from within Slack, would require a separate integration and is not part of this feature at the time of writing
Q: Does Pi automatically pull external data into Planhat on a schedule?
A: No. Tools are called when a User asks Pi something that needs them. Automated, scheduled retrieval is not part of MCP Plugins at the time of writing
User questions
Q: Does every individual User need to connect?
A: It depends on the connection mode ("type"). For Individual mode Plugins, yes - once per application. For Central mode Plugins, your Admin connects once and grants you access; you have nothing to connect
Q: The Plugin has no Connect button. How do I use it?
A: That Plugin is a Central mode connection (which you can see stated in the Plugins list). Your Admin has already connected it; you only need to have been granted access. Check the status shown on the Plugin, and ask your Admin if it says you do not have access
Q: Can my colleagues see my Slack messages or Drive files through Planhat?
A: In Individual mode, no. Each person connects their own account, and Pi only uses your connection when you are the one asking. In Central mode there is one shared connection, so what Pi can retrieve is whatever the shared account can access - by design these Plugins are used for shared, non-personal sources. In both cases, what Pi shows you is visible in the Session according to the Session mode - in "Ask Pi" mode, it's private to you
Q: I clicked Connect but nothing happened / I got an error
A: Make sure you are signed in to the right account in the external application, then try again. If the error mentions approval or permissions, your workspace may require an Admin to approve the Planhat app first - speak with your Admin
Q: Do I need to invite Planhat to my Slack channels?
A: No. Pi reads Slack as you, so any channel you can open, Pi can read for you
Q: Pi says it cannot find the channel or file
A: Check that you can open it yourself in the application. If you can, try giving Pi a more specific hint - the exact channel name, the folder, or the full Company name
Q: Will Pi post in Slack or edit my files without asking?
A: Pi only acts on your request in a Session, and only with the tools you have enabled
Q: Do I have to reconnect every time?
A: No - you connect once per application. You may be asked to reconnect if your Admin changes the Plugin's credentials
Q: Which applications are available to me?
A: Whatever your Admin has set up - you will see them listed under "MCP Plugins" (which you can find in the Tools menu, which you can navigate to by clicking "More" in your sidebar). If there is an application you would like added, ask your Admin
Admin questions
Q: I want to set up MCP Plugins, but I can't see the MCP Plugins Tool in the Tools menu - why is this?
A: At time of writing, access to MCP Plugins is controlled by a tenant-level feature flag that needs to be enabled by a Planhat staff member, so if you can't see it, please reach out to your Planhat contact (e.g. CSM / Deployment Strategist)
Q: Which applications are supported?
A: Planhat offers a library of pre-configured MCP Plugins, such as Slack, Google Drive and GitHub, and more will be added over time. See the Plugin library in your tenant (which you will see when you go to add a new MCP Plugin) for the current list. Any other MCP server can be added as a custom MCP connection
Q: Can I connect our own internal MCP server?
A: Yes. In addition to the pre-configured Plugin library, you can add any MCP server as a custom MCP connection by entering its server URL and choosing the authentication method it expects (OAuth, API token, or username/password). See the Admin guide for the setup information
Q: Which authentication methods are supported?
A: Three: OAuth, API token, and username/password. Most pre-configured Plugins use OAuth, which is the method the MCP protocol specifies and the one we recommend for the strongest security. Use API token or username/password only where the MCP server does not support OAuth
Q: Can I use a Central connection for Slack to save Users the connection step?
A: Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it: everyone granted access would be able to retrieve what the connected account can see, and Slack would attribute all activity to that one account. You should use Individual mode for Slack
Q: For a Central connection, who gets access?
A: You decide. During or after connecting the shared account, you grant access to specific Users, Teams or Roles. Users who have been granted access see the Plugin as available in their MCP Plugins view; nobody else can use it
Q: Do I need to add the Planhat app to each Slack channel?
A: No. With an Individual connection, Users can retrieve content from any channel they can access in Slack, without the app being a member of the channel
Q: What happens if a User leaves the organization?
A: Deactivating the User in Planhat removes their access to Pi and therefore to every MCP Plugin. You should also remove their access in the external application as part of your normal offboarding
Q: What happens if I regenerate the Client Secret or token?
A: The old credential stops working. Paste the new one into the MCP Plugin configuration and save. Depending on the application, existing User authorizations may continue to work or may need to be re-authorized - check with a test User
Q: Can I disable a Plugin without deleting it?
A: Yes. Disabling stops Pi from using the Plugin but keeps the configuration and User authorizations, so it can be re-enabled later. Deleting removes the Plugin and revokes all authorizations, and cannot be undone
Q: Is there an audit trail?
A: Yes. Planhat logs every tool call made through an MCP Plugin, including the User, Plugin, tool and time
Q: I am trying to set up the templated Slack MCP Plugin, but when I test the connection I get an error message:
Authorization worked, but the server did not answer with its tools, so the connection was not kept. Please try again.-Cannot reach MCP connection "Slack"-App is not enabled for Slack MCP server access. What's wrong, and how can I fix this?A: When you are setting up the MCP Plugin on the Slack side, make sure you navigate to "Agents" in the left-hand menu, and then enable the toggle switch for "Slack Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server"