Connect Vindex to Claude Desktop and claude.ai
Claude Desktop and claude.ai are where a lot of stories get drafted before they reach the tracker. With Vindex connected, the draft gets checked in the same conversation, before anyone else has to read it.
Three steps, about 2 minutes. Open to every registered Vindex user; new users create an account during sign-in.
The walkthrough
Add Vindex as a custom connector
Open Settings and go to Connectors. Choose Add custom connector, name it Vindex, and paste the server URL. Save.
The connector belongs to your Claude account, so it follows you between the desktop app and claude.ai. On a Team or Enterprise plan an admin may need to allow custom connectors first.
https://mcp.vindexgateway.com/mcpConnect and sign in
Next to the new connector, choose Connect. A Vindex sign-in opens; use the account you use for the Vindex Portal, or create one on this screen to start on the free plan.
Back in Claude, the connector shows as connected. In a conversation, open the tools menu and make sure Vindex is enabled for that chat.
Score your first story
Paste or draft a story, then ask Claude to score it with Vindex. The score-story prompt is also available from the connector's menu in the composer for a one-click check of whatever is in the chat.
Claude presents the finding first, then the percentage and band. Ask for the dimensions when you want the reasons; ask Claude to explain a dimension and it answers from Vindex without using your allowance.
Try this in Claude
“Score this story with Vindex: As a customer I want an ETA email when my delivery is delayed, so I can plan around it. Acceptance criteria: the customer receives an email with the new ETA; the email includes the order number and new window; the customer can opt out in settings.”
What comes back
The result reads finding first: the one change that moves the score most, in plain language. Then the overall percentage and its band (Healthy 80 to 100, Needs review 60 to 79, At risk 0 to 59), then the six INVEST dimensions with reasons and suggestions when you ask for them.
The band is Vindex’s suggestion. Claude Desktop and claude.ai does not stop or change anything on its own; what happens next is your call. Fix the story and ask again: the re-check of a counted story is free.
Troubleshooting
Add custom connector is not available
On Team and Enterprise plans an owner has to allow custom connectors in the organization's settings. On Free plans custom connectors may not be offered; check the current plan comparison.
Claude says it cannot see a Vindex tool
Open the tools menu in the composer and enable Vindex for this conversation. Connectors are enabled per chat.
The score came back as one sentence with no numbers
That sentence is a Vindex error: a timeout, a busy company, or an exhausted allowance. Ask Claude to check usage with Vindex, or try again in a moment.
Using a different client?
Next steps
Finding first, then the band, then the dimensions.
Fix the draft before it exists in Jira.
Endpoint, sign-in, tools, limits.
Claude Desktop and claude.ai was connected to the live Vindex MCP server before this page was published.