Connecting timr to an AI assistant (MCP Connector)

Overview

Use the timr app to connect timr with ChatGPT or Claude. You can then review working time, project hours, time accounts, and absences directly in chat, as well as create or update entries.

You only need to connect once. The assistant can access only the data and features available to the signed-in timr user.

Data protection and security: Before using the app, check which company policies apply to AI assistants.

1. Prerequisites

2. Connecting timr to an AI assistant

2.1 In ChatGPT
2.2 In Claude
2.3 Integrating the timr MCP server directly

3. Using timr in chat

1. Prerequisites

• An active timr account with login credentials.
• ChatGPT, Claude, or another MCP-capable client.

No administrator rights in timr or separate API credentials are required for ChatGPT and Claude. Only if another MCP client requires its own OAuth Client ID does a timr administrator create OAuth credentials once, see section 2.3. In a managed ChatGPT workspace, a workspace administrator may need to enable the timr app.

Note: Available features depend on your timr plan, enabled add-ons, and permissions in timr.

2. Connecting timr to an AI assistant

2.1 In ChatGPT

Step 1: Open the Plugin Marketplace in ChatGPT and search for timr.

Step 2: Open the timr app and select Try in chat.

Step 3: When prompted, connect timr and sign in with your timr credentials.

2.2 In Claude

Note: The timr connector in the Claude directory is still misconfigured on Anthropic's side (sign-in is listed as "not required"). Connecting from the directory therefore fails with the message "status 401". We have asked Anthropic to correct the listing. Until then, add timr as a custom connector – it takes about a minute and requires no API credentials in timr.

Prerequisite: On Claude Team and Enterprise plans, only an organization owner can add custom connectors. Members then connect on their own.

Step 1: In Claude, open Settings → Connectors and click Add custom connector.

Step 2: Enter timr as the name and the following address as the server URL:

https://mcp.timr.app/mcp

Step 3: Claude checks the address and selects the sign-in automatically: Sign in now under Authentication and Use Claude’s published identity under OAuth client. Keep these settings and click Add. Leave OAuth Client ID and Client Secret empty.

Step 4: Click Connect. Sign in with your timr credentials and confirm access for Claude.

Note: Each user signs in with their own timr account. If you already connected timr with your own API credentials, that connection keeps working. Once Anthropic has corrected the directory listing, you can also use the timr connector directly from the directory.

2.3 Integrating the timr MCP server directly

For other MCP-capable clients, use the following server address:

https://mcp.timr.app/mcp

Most current clients detect the sign-in of the timr MCP server automatically and need no further configuration. Only if your client asks for an OAuth Client ID and OAuth Client Secret, register the client once in timr.

Setting up an OAuth client in timr

Prerequisite: Administrator rights in timr.

1. Start setting up the connector in your MCP client. Enter https://mcp.timr.app/mcp as the server URL and select OAuth as the authentication method. Copy the callback or redirect URL displayed by the client.
2. In timr, open Administration → Settings → Integrations → API Credentials → Add.
3. Enter a name, select Authorization Code + Refresh Token as the OAuth Grant Type, and enter the callback or redirect URL from step 1 as the Redirect URL. Save the credentials.
4. Copy the OAuth Client ID and OAuth Client Secret displayed by timr into the corresponding fields in your MCP client.
5. If the client asks for scopes, enter openid offline_access. Complete the setup and sign in with your timr credentials.

Note: The API credentials only need to be created once per client configuration. Each user then signs in with their own timr account.

For a general introduction, see the official MCP documentation.

3. Using timr in chat

Ask questions in natural language. The more specific your question and the clearer your data in timr, the more helpful the answer will be.

Example questions

• “How many hours have I already worked this week, and how much is still outstanding?”
• “What is my flextime balance, and how many vacation days do I have left this year?”
• “How many hours did I work on project X this month?”

Example update

“For my last time entry for customer Huber, task Service, add the note: Serviced heating system, replaced filter, customer was on site.”

Tip: With additional connected apps, such as calendar or email, the assistant can combine information from multiple sources.