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

# Kilo

> Add Tavily web search, extraction, crawling, and research to Kilo through the Tavily MCP server.

[Kilo](https://kilo.ai) is an open source AI coding agent. It runs in [VS Code, JetBrains, Cursor, Windsurf](https://kilo.ai/install), and other IDEs, [as a CLI](https://kilo.ai/install#cli), and in the [Kilo Desktop](https://kilo.ai/install) app. Add Tavily's hosted [MCP server](https://docs.tavily.com/documentation/mcp.md) to give it live web search, extraction, crawling, and research (`tavily_search`, `tavily_extract`, `tavily_crawl`, `tavily_map`, `tavily_research`). Every surface shares the same MCP config.

## Remote MCP server (recommended)

Install [Kilo](https://kilo.ai/install) and get a [Tavily API key](https://app.tavily.com).

**1. Add the server**

Add Tavily under the `mcp` key in your Kilo config. Use `~/.config/kilo/kilo.jsonc` for all projects, or `.kilo/kilo.jsonc` in a project to scope it. The project file overrides the global one.

```json ~/.config/kilo/kilo.jsonc theme={null}
{
  "$schema": "https://app.kilo.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "tavily": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}
```

**2. Authenticate**

Open the MCP servers list in Kilo's settings and click **Sign in** next to `tavily`, or run `kilo mcp auth tavily` in the CLI. Then sign in to Tavily in your browser. If Kilo doesn't pick up the new config, restart it.

**3. Try it**

In Kilo chat, ask:

> Use Tavily to find the official documentation for numpy.

Approve the tool call. Tavily tool calls and source links in the response confirm it worked.

### Use an API key

To skip OAuth, send your key in an `Authorization` header and set `"oauth": false`. Kilo reads `{env:TAVILY_API_KEY}` from the environment it starts in, so set the variable before you launch Kilo.

```json theme={null}
{
  "$schema": "https://app.kilo.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "tavily": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/",
      "oauth": false,
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer {env:TAVILY_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Keyless access

For limited Search and Extract access without signing in, connect through the `mcp-remote` bridge, which sends the keyless header. It requires [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/download). See [keyless access](https://docs.tavily.com/documentation/keyless.md) for limits and supported tools.

```json theme={null}
{
  "$schema": "https://app.kilo.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "tavily": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": [
        "npx",
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote@latest",
        "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/",
        "--header",
        "X-Tavily-Access-Mode:keyless"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Install from the Marketplace

In the IDE extensions and Kilo Desktop, you can install Tavily from the UI instead of editing the config. In VS Code and other VS Code forks, open the Kilo sidebar first, then Kilo settings. In Kilo Desktop, open Settings.

**1. Find Tavily**

Go to **Agent Behaviour → MCP Servers**, click **Browse Marketplace**, and search for Tavily.

**2. Install**

Choose whether Tavily is available to this **project** or **global**, keep the **NPX** installation method, and enter your Tavily API key. Click **Install** and Kilo writes the server to your MCP config.

![Kilo's Install Tavily dialog with the project and global scope options, the NPX installation method, and the Tavily API Key field](https://mintcdn.com/tavilyai/2oGttkeYOHF64tV5/images/kilo-marketplace-install.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=2oGttkeYOHF64tV5\&q=85\&s=2002ba86d44270b8a7a3f759076edbc9)

> [!NOTE]
>
> Kilo stores the key in the config file it writes. A project install writes `.kilo/kilo.json`, so don't commit that file, or choose global instead. To sign in with OAuth and keep your key out of the file, use the remote server above.

## Local MCP server

Run the [Tavily MCP package](https://github.com/tavily-ai/tavily-mcp) locally. It still calls Tavily's API.

**1. Set your API key**

Install [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/download) 20 or later and set `TAVILY_API_KEY` in your environment.

**2. Add the server**

Add this to your Kilo config.

```json theme={null}
{
  "$schema": "https://app.kilo.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "tavily-local": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["npx", "-y", "tavily-mcp@latest"],
      "environment": {
        "TAVILY_API_KEY": "{env:TAVILY_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**3. Verify**

Confirm `tavily-local` shows as connected in Kilo's MCP servers list, or run `kilo mcp list`.

## Kilo CLI

The [Kilo CLI](https://kilo.ai/install#cli) reads the same config files, so the setups above work unchanged. You can also add the remote server from the command line, then sign in:

```bash theme={null}
kilo mcp add tavily --url https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/
kilo mcp auth tavily
kilo mcp list
```

`list` shows whether `tavily` is connected or needs authentication. To switch Tavily accounts, run `kilo mcp logout tavily`, then `kilo mcp auth tavily` again. If sign-in fails, `kilo mcp debug tavily` traces the OAuth connection.

## Example usage

> Use Tavily to find three recent changes in this project's main framework. Summarize the ones that affect our code and link each source.

> Use Tavily to research how other open-source projects structure this pattern, then draft a plan for ours and cite the sources.

## Troubleshooting

* **`tavily` needs authentication.** Click **Sign in** in the MCP servers list, or run `kilo mcp auth tavily`. Restart Kilo if it still shows the old state.
* **`tavily` fails to connect.** Run `kilo mcp debug tavily`, and check that the URL or command in your config is correct.
* **The API-key header is rejected.** Check that `TAVILY_API_KEY` is set in the environment Kilo starts from, then restart Kilo.
* **OAuth uses the wrong key.** Tavily uses the key named `mcp_auth_default`, so rename a key in the [Tavily dashboard](https://app.tavily.com). See [API key selection](https://docs.tavily.com/documentation/mcp.md#oauth-authentication).

## Resources

* [Kilo MCP documentation](https://kilo.ai/docs/automate/mcp/using-in-kilo-code)
* [Kilo CLI MCP documentation](https://kilo.ai/docs/automate/mcp/using-in-cli)
* [Kilo Marketplace](https://kilo.ai/docs/customize/marketplace)
* [Tavily MCP server](https://docs.tavily.com/documentation/mcp.md)