
How to add Nylas MCP Server (Remote) to Windsurf
Hosted remote MCP for email, calendar and contacts across Gmail, Outlook, IMAP Paste the config into ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json and restart Windsurf.
Last updated June 15, 2026 · 40★ · http · apikey · official
Windsurf config for Nylas MCP Server (Remote)
Add remote MCP URL https://mcp.us.nylas.com with header Authorization: Bearer <NYLAS_API_KEY>{
"mcpServers": {
"nylas-mcp-server-remote": {
"serverUrl": "https://mcp.us.nylas.com",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer <your-nylas-api-key>"
}
}
}
}Remote server — no local install needed. Restart the client after saving the config.
Setup steps
- 1Open Windsurf → Cascade → the hammer/MCP icon → Configure (or edit ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json).
- 2Paste the Nylas MCP Server (Remote) config below.
- 3Fill in placeholder secrets, then save.
- 4Click Refresh in the MCP panel.
- 5Nylas MCP Server (Remote)'s tools become available to Cascade.
Before you start
- A Nylas account and a Nylas API key (from the Nylas Dashboard) used as the Bearer token in the Authorization header
- At least one connected grant (an end-user mailbox/calendar account authorized through Nylas) for the tools to act on
- An MCP client that supports remote HTTP/streamable-HTTP servers (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex CLI, etc.)
- Optionally the Nylas CLI for one-command install (`nylas mcp install`); the experimental nylas-api-mcp samples repo additionally needs Node.js 18+
What Nylas MCP Server (Remote) can do in Windsurf
send_messageSend an email message (uses a two-step confirm_send_message confirmation)
create_draftCreate, update or delete email drafts (create_draft, update_draft, delete_draft, send_draft)
list_messagesList and retrieve messages, threads and folders (get_message, list_threads, list_folders, get_search_syntax)
create_eventCreate, update, delete and read calendar events (update_event, delete_event, get_event, list_events)
list_calendarsList calendars and compute free/busy availability for scheduling
availabilityFind open meeting times across calendars
list_contactsList and fetch contacts (list_contacts, get_contact)
schedule_notetakerSchedule, send and retrieve Nylas Notetaker meeting bots and their media
Security
A single Nylas API key in the Authorization header grants the assistant access to all connected email/calendar/contact accounts — scope and rotate the key carefully. Choose the regional endpoint (US vs EU) that matches your data-residency requirements.
Nylas MCP Server (Remote) + Windsurf FAQ
Where is the Windsurf config file?
Windsurf reads MCP servers from ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json. Paste the Nylas MCP Server (Remote) config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.
Is Nylas MCP Server (Remote) safe to use with Windsurf?
A single Nylas API key in the Authorization header grants the assistant access to all connected email/calendar/contact accounts — scope and rotate the key carefully. Choose the regional endpoint (US vs EU) that matches your data-residency requirements.
Is this server hosted or do I run it myself?
It is hosted by Nylas as a remote HTTP MCP server at mcp.us.nylas.com / mcp.eu.nylas.com. You connect to it with your API key rather than running a local process.
How does authentication work?
You pass your Nylas API key as a Bearer token in the Authorization header — the same credential you use for the Nylas REST API. The tools act on the grants connected to that Nylas application.
Which providers does it cover?
Whatever Nylas connects: Gmail/Google, Microsoft Outlook (Graph), and generic IMAP accounts, all normalized behind one set of tools.