X1 Search MCP for Claude
Search everything X1 Search indexes on your PC — right inside Claude.
Overview The X1 Search plugin for Claude lets Claude search everything X1 Search already indexes on your PC: local files, Outlook and MS Mail, PST files, Gmail, OneDrive, SharePoint, Box, Teams, and more. You ask in plain language; X1 finds the matching items and returns only those. The plugin bundles two parts: the X1 Search connector (a local MCP server that talks to your X1 index) and the /x1 skill, which teaches Claude to search efficiently and to work with file paths instead of pulling large attachments into the conversation.
Privacy & security. Searches run against the X1 index on your own machine. Only the matching items Claude asks for are returned — whole mailboxes, drives, or data sources are never uploaded to Claude.
What you need
- X1 Search version 12.0 or later, installed, running, and with at least one completed index scan. The plugin is included with every X1 Search 12 (and later) license, for all sources, with no add-on.
- Indexed sources. Set up the sources you want Claude to reach (files, mail, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Gmail, and so on). Claude can only see what X1 has indexed.
- A paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. Plugins are not available on the Free plan.
- The Claude desktop app installed, running, and signed in on the same PC as X1 Search.
- Claude Cowork or Claude Code. The connector runs as a local server, which Claude supports in Cowork and Claude Code — not in regular chat (claude.ai in a browser, or the Chat tab in the desktop app).
- Windows 11 with .NET Framework 4.8 or later. Windows 10 and 32-bit systems are not supported.
Setting up the connector Setup takes about a minute. In short:
- In X1 Search, open Options > MCP Connector and click OPEN MCP INSTALLATION FOLDER.
- In the Claude desktop app, go to Settings > Plugins, then click Add > Upload plugin.
- Select x1-search.plugin from that MCP folder and click Upload.
- Make sure the plugin is toggled On, then start a new Cowork task.
Rolling it out to your team? Claude Team/Enterprise admins can upload x1-search.plugin to an organization marketplace and set it to Installed by default, so everyone gets it automatically.
Confirm it’s working
Start a new Cowork task and ask Claude:
- “Which X1 connector version is running?” — confirms Claude is talking to X1 on your PC.
- “List my X1 sources and their item counts.” — shows each source Claude can reach.
- “Search my files for <a word you know exists>.” — matching items come back.
You can also verify from X1 Search: open Options > MCP Connector and check that the Connected client names your Claude app.
Using it
- “Find the most recent contract in my files and preview it.”
- “Search my Outlook mail for messages from <person> about <topic>.”
- “What’s in my SharePoint about <project>?”
- “Pull up that deck about <topic> and show me the text.”
Tip: you can search everything at once — Claude checks each source and combines the results. Naming a source (“in my email”, “in OneDrive”) is optional and just narrows things down.
Keeping it running well
- Keep X1 Search and the Claude desktop app running on that PC — including when you use Cowork from your phone or the web.
- Keep indexes current with scheduled delta scans, so recent items are searchable.
- If Claude stops seeing X1, start a new task; if that doesn’t help, fully quit and relaunch Claude.
Need the detailed walkthrough, admin rollout steps, or troubleshooting? See the full X1 Search MCP setup guide.