A complete, beginner-friendly guide to download, install, activate, and open Odoo MCP Connection for the first time.
Overview
This page walks you through installing Odoo MCP Connection on your Odoo system from scratch. You do not need to be a developer – but you (or someone on your team) will need access to the server where Odoo is installed, plus administrator rights inside Odoo.
By the end of this guide you will have:
- The addon files placed in the correct folder on your server
- Odoo restarted and the app list updated
- The MCP Connector app installed and activated
- Demo sample data loaded (if you chose demo data during install)
- The right users given permission to see and use the MCP menu
Before you begin
Make sure you are installing
Odoo 17
and that you have a backup of your database. If you are on Odoo Online or Odoo.sh, ask your hosting provider or IT team to upload the addon – you may not have direct server access.
How Installation Works
Odoo apps (also called addons or modules) are folders that sit on your server. Odoo reads those folders, lists them in the Apps screen, and lets you install the ones you need.
The flow is simple:
- You copy the addon folder onto the server.
- You restart Odoo so it notices the new folder.
- You turn on Developer Mode and refresh the app list.
- You search for the app and click Activate (Install).
- You give users the right permissions so they can see the menu.
The addon folder name is odoo_mcp_connection. Keep this name exactly as it is – do not rename the folder.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Step 1 – Download the latest copy of the addon
Get the newest version of Odoo MCP Connection from your vendor (for example WebbyCrown Solutions) or from the package your IT team received. Download it as a ZIP file if provided, and extract it on your computer. After extracting, you should see a folder named odoo_mcp_connection containing files like __manifest__.py and subfolders such as models, views, and security. Always use the latest version so you have the newest features and fixes.
Step 2 – Upload the addon folder to your Odoo addons directory
Copy the entire odoo_mcp_connection folder to the place where Odoo looks for custom apps. This is usually one of these locations on your server:
addons– standard Odoo addons pathcustom_addons– common folder for custom modules
Upload using FTP, SFTP, or your hosting file manager. Place the folder so the path looks like: .../custom_addons/odoo_mcp_connection/ – not nested inside another folder by mistake. If your IT team uses a config file (odoo.conf), the addons path must include the parent folder you used (e.g. custom_addons).
Step 3 – Restart the Odoo service
After uploading, Odoo must be restarted so it can scan and register the new addon. How you restart depends on your setup:
- Linux server: ask IT to run something like
sudo systemctl restart odoo - Windows service: restart the Odoo service from Services
- Docker: restart the Odoo container
Wait until Odoo is fully running again before opening the browser. Skipping this step is a common reason the app does not appear in the list.
Step 4 – Activate Developer Mode in Settings
Log in to Odoo as an Administrator. Go to Settings (gear icon). Scroll to the bottom of the page. Click Activate the developer mode (or Developer Tools → Activate the developer mode). Developer Mode unlocks technical options you need – especially Update Apps List. You can leave Developer Mode on during setup; turn it off later if your company policy requires it.
Step 5 – Update the Apps list
Open the Apps menu (main Odoo app switcher). Click the ⋮ (three dots) or Update Apps List in the top menu. Confirm when Odoo asks. This forces Odoo to rescan all addon folders and include your newly uploaded MCP Connector. Without this step, the app often will not show up even if the folder is on the server.
Step 6 – Search for the addon in Apps and activate it
Still in Apps, remove the default “Apps” filter if needed (click the search chip and clear it). Search for MCP Connection or Odoo MCP Connection. You should see the app with its description about AI agents, API keys, and audit logs. Click Activate (or Install). Wait until installation finishes – Odoo may take a minute. When done, the button will show Installed or the app opens with a success message.
Step 7 – Demo data installs automatically (when included)
If your database was created with demo data, or if the installer loaded demo records, Odoo MCP Connection will add helpful sample content automatically. This typically includes:
- Demo API keys (for testing only – change before production)
- Sample portal dashboard pages (Contact Intelligence, CRM Pipeline, Invoicing Dashboard, and more)
- A demo generated module example
You do not need to run a separate step for demo data – it loads during install when demo mode applies. On a production database without demo data, these samples will not appear, which is normal. You can still create your own API keys and pages from scratch.
Step 8 – Give users permission to access MCP features
Not every Odoo user sees the MCP menu by default. The main Odoo MCP Connection menu is for administrators and users with MCP management rights. To allow a team member to use it:
- Go to Settings → Users & Companies → Users
- Open the user you want to give access to
- On the Access Rights tab, find the section Odoo MCP Connection
- Assign the right level:
- MCP Manager – can manage API keys, access rules, and audit logs (for IT or admins)
- MCP User – limited read access to audit-related features
- For full menu access (API Keys, Settings, Portal Pages, etc.), the user typically also needs Administration → Settings rights, or must be an Administrator
Save the user form after changing access rights.
Step 9 – Refresh Odoo and confirm the menu appears
After saving user permissions, refresh your browser (F5 or Ctrl+R). Log out and log back in as the user you updated if the menu still does not show. You should now see Odoo MCP Connection in the main app menu (top bar or app switcher). Open it and confirm you can access:
- API Keys
- Audit Logs
- Portal Pages
- Configuration → Settings
If the menu appears, installation is complete. Continue with Getting Started to create your first API key and connect an AI tool.
Installation Checklist
| Step | What you do | Where |
|---|---|---|
1. Download |
Get latest |
Folder contains |
2. Upload |
Copy folder to |
Folder visible on server at correct path |
3. Restart |
Restart Odoo service |
Odoo loads without errors in server log |
4. Developer Mode |
Settings → Activate developer mode |
Technical menus and debug options appear |
5. Update Apps List |
Apps → Update Apps List |
Confirmation message; list refreshes |
6. Activate |
Search “MCP Connection” → Activate |
App shows as Installed |
7. Demo data |
Automatic if database uses demo data |
Demo API keys and portal pages exist |
8. User rights |
Settings → Users → MCP access rights |
User has MCP Manager or Admin rights |
9. Verify menu |
Refresh browser / re-login |
“Odoo MCP Connection” visible in main menu |
User Access Levels
| Who It Is For | Who It Is For | What They Can Do |
|---|---|---|
Administrator (Settings) |
IT admin, Odoo implementer |
Full MCP menu: API Keys, Settings, Portal Pages, OAuth, all configuration |
MCP Manager |
Trusted power users |
Manage API keys, model access, and audit logs |
MCP User |
Staff who only need visibility |
View own MCP audit-related entries (read-only) |
No MCP access |
Regular Odoo users |
Cannot see Odoo MCP Connection menu |
Step Explanations (In Simple Words)
Why download the latest copy?
Older versions may miss features or bug fixes. Always install the version built for your Odoo release (17.0 for Odoo 17).
Why upload to addons or custom_addons?
Odoo only loads apps from folders it knows about. Your server config lists which directories to scan. Putting the folder in the wrong place is the #1 install failure.
Why restart Odoo?
Odoo reads the list of available addons when it starts. A restart ensures it sees your newly uploaded folder.
Why Developer Mode?
It exposes the Update Apps List action and other tools needed to register a manually uploaded addon. It does not change your business data.
Why Update Apps List?
Tells Odoo to look again at all addon folders. Required after uploading any custom module manually.
What does Activate / Install do?
It creates MCP tables in your database, loads security rules, menus, demo data (if applicable), and makes the app ready to use.
What is demo data?
Sample API keys and dashboard pages so you can explore before building production setup. Never use demo tokens in real AI connections.
Why set user permissions?
Odoo hides apps from users who are not allowed to see them. Without MCP Manager or Administrator rights, your team will not find the menu even after a successful install.
Why refresh and re-login?
Odoo caches your session and menu rights when you log in. A refresh or new login applies the permissions you just saved.
Tips
- After install, open Configuration → Settings inside Odoo MCP Connection and confirm Enable MCP Connection is turned on before connecting any AI tool.
- If you installed with demo data, open Portal Pages and preview
demo-contactsto see a live sample dashboard immediately. - On Odoo.sh or managed hosting, use the platform’s “upload module” or Git deploy process instead of manual FTP – ask your partner if unsure.
Common Mistakes
- Renaming the addon folder: The folder must stay
odoo_mcp_connection. Renaming it breaks installation and upgrades. - Skipping restart or Update Apps List: The app will not appear in Apps until both are done.
- Installing on the wrong Odoo version: This module is for Odoo 17. Installing on Odoo 16 or 18 may cause errors.
- Expecting all users to see the menu: Only users with Administrator or MCP Manager access see the full menu. Assign rights in Step 8.
- Using demo API keys in production: Demo keys are for testing only. Create new keys and rotate demo tokens before going live.