openpapers-mcp
Click on "Deploy Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@openpapers-mcpfind papers about CRISPR gene editing"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
π¬ openpapers-mcp - Find and access scientific papers easily
This tool helps researchers find scientific papers across major databases. It connects your desktop software to sources like OpenAlex, CrossRef, and Unpaywall. You search for topics, read abstracts, and download legal open-access PDFs directly to your computer.
βοΈ System Requirements
Windows 10 or Windows 11
At least 200 MB of free storage space
A stable internet connection
Claude Desktop application installed
Related MCP server: Paper Search MCP
π₯ How to Install
Follow these steps to set up the software on your computer.
Visit the official download page.
Look for the "Releases" section on the right side of the page.
Click the latest version link.
Select the file ending in
.exeto start the download.Save the file to your "Downloads" folder.
Open your "Downloads" folder and double-click the file to start the installation.
Follow the prompts on your screen to complete the setup process.
π οΈ Setting Up With Claude Desktop
Once you install the software, you must connect it to your AI assistant.
Open the Claude Desktop application.
Locate the settings menu. You can usually find this by clicking your profile icon or the gear icon in the corner.
Find the area labeled "MCP" or "Model Context Protocol."
Add a new configuration entry.
Point the configuration to the path where you installed the openpapers-mcp file.
Restart the Claude Desktop application so the changes take effect.
π How to Use the Tool
After you complete the setup, you can access the tool inside your chat window with Claude.
Open Claude Desktop.
Type a sentence about the research topic you need. For example, "Find papers about climate change in the Arctic."
The software will search the connected databases.
It will return a list of relevant papers.
You can ask for an abstract if you want a summary.
To get the full text, type "Download PDF" followed by the paper title or ID provided in the search results.
The software saves the PDF to your default downloads folder.
π Frequently Asked Questions
Does this tool cost money? No, this software uses open databases. It only provides access to legal, open-access research papers.
Will this work on a Mac? These instructions describe the Windows process. The tool is designed for use within the Claude Desktop environment on Windows systems.
What if I cannot find a paper? Sometimes a paper exists, but it lacks a legal open-access version. The tool will inform you if no downloadable PDF exists.
How do I update the software? Check the download page periodically for new versions. Run the new installer to update your current files.
Is my data private? The software works locally on your machine. Your search history stays within your own environment unless you share your chat logs with the AI provider.
π‘οΈ Troubleshooting
If the software fails to connect, check your internet connection first. Ensure that you correctly entered the file path in your Claude Desktop settings. If the connection remains broken, remove the entry in the MCP settings and add it again to ensure the path contains no typos. You may also check that your security software does not block the application from running.
Keywords: academic-research, claude-desktop, crossref, mcp, mcp-server, model-context-protocol, open-access, openalex, scientific-papers, unpaywall
Available Tools
5 toolsdownload_pdfA
Download a PDF to the local PDF directory. Use find_oa_pdf first to obtain a URL. The URL is validated for SSRF safety (private/loopback/metadata IPs are refused) and the bytes are verified to start with the %PDF- magic marker. Downloads are capped at PDF_MAX_BYTES (default 100 MB) and written atomically β a failed download never leaves a partial file at the final path.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| doi | No | DOI used to derive the filename (optional). | |
| url | Yes | Direct PDF URL (typically best_oa_location.url_for_pdf from find_oa_pdf). | |
| filename | No | Explicit filename override (sanitized; will be .pdf-suffixed). |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| doi | No | |
| url | Yes | |
| local_path | Yes | |
| content_type | No | |
| bytes_written | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations provided, the description carries the full behavioral burden and does so excellently. It discloses SSRF safety validation, PDF magic-marker verification, a 100 MB size cap, and atomic writes that prevent partial files. This goes well beyond typical descriptions and addresses security and reliability concerns.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is two sentences, front-loaded with the primary purpose, and then efficiently packs usage guidance and safety details. Every sentence earns its place, with no filler or redundancy.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
The description covers purpose, prerequisite, safety, size limits, and failure behavior. The existence of an output schema means return values need no description. A slight gap is that it doesn't mention error handling for non-PDF content beyond the magic-marker check, but the given details are otherwise comprehensive for this tool's complexity.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, and the schema already explains each parameter (url, doi, filename) with useful context. The description adds no new parameter-level semantics; it only reinforces that the URL should come from find_oa_pdf. Per calibration, a baseline of 3 is appropriate when the schema covers parameters well.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool's function: 'Download a PDF to the local PDF directory.' This is a specific verb+resource+location combination. It also implicitly differentiates from siblings like find_oa_pdf by focusing on the download step, and explicitly references the typical prerequisite workflow.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description provides explicit workflow guidance by instructing 'Use find_oa_pdf first to obtain a URL.' This tells the agent when to use this tool in sequence with a sibling. It lacks an explicit 'when not to use' clause, but the context is clear enough for a download tool.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
find_oa_pdfA
Find a legal Open Access PDF for a DOI via Unpaywall. Returns the OA status, the best OA location (with direct PDF URL if available), and a list of all OA locations (repository vs publisher, version, license).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| doi | Yes | DOI of the paper (bare, URL, or 'doi:' prefix accepted). |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| doi | No | |
| genre | No | |
| is_oa | Yes | |
| pdf_url | No | |
| oa_status | No | |
| journal_name | No | |
| oa_locations | No | |
| journal_is_oa | No | |
| best_oa_location | No | |
| journal_is_in_doaj | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries the full burden. It discloses return values (OA status, best location, list of locations) and the data source, but does not mention read-only behavior, failure handling, or authorization requirements. This is adequate but not thorough.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is two sentences, front-loaded with the main purpose, and every word adds value. There is no redundancy or unnecessary detail.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the simple single-parameter signature and the presence of an output schema, the description provides a complete account of the tool's function and return structure. It lacks explicit usage guidance relative to siblings, but that is not critical for this simple tool.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The schema provides 100% coverage for the 'doi' parameter, including acceptable formats. The description adds no extra parameter-specific meaning beyond the schema, so the baseline score of 3 applies.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool's function: find a legal Open Access PDF for a given DOI via Unpaywall. It uses a specific verb and resource, and the distinction from sibling tools like search_papers and download_pdf is clear.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description implies the tool is used when you have a DOI and need a legal Open Access PDF. It does not explicitly mention alternatives or exclusions, but the context is clear enough for an agent to decide when to invoke it.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_paperA
Fetch full metadata for a single paper by DOI, including the abstract (reconstructed from OpenAlex), authors with ORCID/affiliations, concepts, and references (enriched from CrossRef).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| doi | Yes | DOI as bare string ('10.1038/nature12373'), URL form, or 'doi:...' β all accepted. |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| doi | No | |
| is_oa | No | |
| title | Yes | |
| venue | No | |
| authors | No | |
| funders | No | |
| license | No | |
| pdf_url | No | |
| abstract | No | |
| concepts | No | |
| keywords | No | |
| language | No | |
| oa_status | No | |
| publisher | No | |
| references | No | |
| venue_type | No | |
| openalex_id | No | |
| cited_by_count | No | |
| landing_page_url | No | |
| publication_date | No | |
| publication_year | No | |
| references_count | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries the full transparency burden. It discloses non-obvious behaviors: the abstract is 'reconstructed from OpenAlex' and references are 'enriched from CrossRef.' It does not mention error handling or rate limits, but the provenance details add meaningful context.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is a single, front-loaded sentence with no wasted words. It efficiently conveys the action, scope, and included metadata fields while keeping provenance details concise.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's simplicity (one parameter) and the presence of an output schema, the description covers the essential context: what it fetches and by which identifier. It does not explicitly expand on usage relative to siblings, but the sibling names and the 'single paper by DOI' scope provide sufficient context.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The input schema fully documents the doi parameter with examples and accepted formats (bare string, URL, or prefixed). The description adds no extra parameter semantics beyond restating 'by DOI,' and with 100% schema coverage the baseline score of 3 is appropriate.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool fetches full metadata for a single paper by DOI, listing specific content areas (abstract, authors, concepts, references). It distinguishes itself from sibling tools like search_papers and download_pdf by specifying 'single paper' and 'by DOI'.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description implies use when you have a DOI and want full metadata, and the sibling tool list makes the alternative contexts obvious. However, it does not explicitly name alternatives or provide when-not-to-use guidance, so it falls short of a 5.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
research_topicA
Convenience workflow: search OpenAlex for query, then for each top result fetch OA status (Unpaywall). Returns a compact overview suitable for quickly assessing a research area. Abstracts are taken from the search response itself β no extra OpenAlex calls.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| query | Yes | Research topic or free-text query. | |
| max_results | No | Number of top results to enrich (1..10). |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| query | Yes | |
| papers | No | |
| total_results | Yes | |
| oa_available_count | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It explains the workflow steps (search, then OA status lookup), the data source (Unpaywall), and a key optimization: 'Abstracts are taken from the search response itself β no extra OpenAlex calls.' This adds valuable behavioral context, though it doesn't address error handling or what happens if Unpaywall fails.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is two sentences, front-loaded with the core workflow. Every word earns its place, with no redundant phrasing.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's moderate complexity (2 params, output schema present), the description adequately covers the workflow, the data source, and the intended output. The existence of an output schema removes the need to describe return values. It could mention limitations, but the schema already handles constraints, making this sufficient.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3. The description references the 'query' parameter in the first sentence, clarifying its role, but does not add details beyond the schema's own parameter descriptions. No additional semantics are needed.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states its purpose as a 'Convenience workflow' that searches OpenAlex, enriches results with OA status from Unpaywall, and returns a compact overview. This is a specific verb+resource combination that differentiates it from siblings like search_papers (search only) and find_oa_pdf (find PDFs).
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description provides clear usage context, calling it a 'Convenience workflow' 'suitable for quickly assessing a research area.' This implies when to use it but does not explicitly name alternatives or exclusions. Since sibling tools are listed, the context is clear enough for an agent to infer the intended use case.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
search_papersA
Search academic papers by relevance via OpenAlex. Returns a compact list with DOI, title, authors, year, venue, citation count, OA status, and top concepts. Use year_from/year_to to constrain the publication year.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| query | Yes | Free-text search query, e.g. 'transformer attention mechanism'. | |
| year_to | No | Inclusive upper publication year bound. | |
| year_from | No | Inclusive lower publication year bound. | |
| num_results | No | Max number of results (1..50). |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations provided, the description takes on the burden of explaining behavior. It discloses that the tool 'Returns a compact list' with specific fields (DOI, title, authors, year, venue, citation count, OA status, top concepts), and mentions relevance-based search. This goes beyond a mere definition, though it omits details like rate limits or authentication requirements.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is two sentences long, front-loaded with the main purpose, and contains no redundant or filler content. Every sentence provides distinct value: purpose, return contents, and a filtering hint.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's moderate complexity (4 parameters) and the presence of an output schema, the description supplies key information about search behavior and return fields. It lacks explicit usage guidance for when to use this tool over siblings, but overall covers the essential context well.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so the schema already documents all parameters. The description adds a minor clarification for year_from/year_to ('constrain the publication year'), but this does not significantly exceed the schema's existing descriptions. Baseline 3 is appropriate.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description starts with 'Search academic papers by relevance via OpenAlex', which clearly identifies the verb (search), resource (academic papers), and scope (relevance, OpenAlex). This distinguishes it from sibling tools like get_paper (specific paper retrieval), find_oa_pdf, and download_pdf, which have different purposes.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description implies usage for searching academic papers by relevance, and gives a parameter hint ('Use year_from/year_to to constrain the publication year'), but does not explicitly state when to choose this tool over siblings or provide exclusions. The guidance is implied rather than explicit.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Tool Schema Changelog
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
5 tool updates
v0.1.0- First observed
download_pdf - First observed
find_oa_pdf - First observed
get_paper - First observed
research_topic - First observed
search_papers
TDQS
Scored across 5 tools
Each tool has a clear, distinct purpose: searching, fetching metadata, locating OA PDFs, downloading, and a combined workflow. No overlap between tools.
All tools use consistent verb_noun snake_case naming (e.g., search_papers, get_paper). 'research_topic' fits the pattern as a verb-like workflow.
5 tools is appropriate for a focused academic papers server, covering essential operations without being too sparse or bloated.
Covers the core workflow (search, metadata, OA location, download) well. Minor gaps include lack of batch download or local library management, but the set is comprehensive for its purpose.
Maintenance
Related MCP Connectors
Find academic papers across major sources like arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, and more. Download PDFs wheβ¦
Search arXiv/Semantic Scholar/OpenAlex + medical evidence (PubMed/Europe PMC) + LaTeX/PDF tools.
Academic literature search, retrieval, and private library management on top of OpenAlex.
Search and download academic papers from arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, medRxiv, Google Scholar, Semanticβ¦
Related MCP Servers
- AlicenseNot gradedqualityDmaintenanceEnables searching and downloading academic papers from multiple sources including arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar. Provides standardized tools compatible with OpenAI Deep Research and ChatGPT connectors.15MIT
- AlicenseNot gradedqualityCmaintenanceEnables searching and downloading academic papers from multiple sources including arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar. Provides standardized tools for research workflows and OpenAI Deep Research integration.5MIT
- AlicenseAqualityCmaintenanceSearch and read arXiv papers directly from Claude. Supports keyword, author, category, and date filtering plus full PDF text extraction so Claude can read, summarise, and reason over entire papers, not just abstracts.524MIT
- AlicenseAqualityCmaintenanceEnables searching scholarly literature across CrossRef, ERIC, Semantic Scholar, and OpenAlex, and retrieving open-access PDFs via Unpaywall.9MIT