Follow this quickstart to configure your MCP client and integrate MCP for ArcGIS Location Services (beta) into your AI workflows.

1. Sign up for an account

An ArcGIS Location Platform account An ArcGIS Location Platform account, formerly known as an ArcGIS Developer account, is an identity associated with an ArcGIS Location Platform subscription. Learn more is required to access the MCP server. Create a free account if you don’t already have one.

Get a free account for ArcGIS Location Platform

2. Get an access token

Use API key authentication API key authentication is a type of authentication that uses an API key to authenticate requests to ArcGIS services and secure portal items. Learn more or user authentication User authentication is a type of authentication that allows users with an ArcGIS account to sign into an application and allow it to access ArcGIS content, services, and resources on their behalf. The typical authorization protocol used is OAuth2.0. Learn more to get an access token An access token is an authorization string that provides access to secure ArcGIS content, data, and services. Its capabilities are determined by the privileges it supports. It is obtained by implementing API key authentication, User authentication, or App authentication. Learn more to authenticate requests to the MCP server.

Create an API key credential with the following configurations:

  • Set the type of application to:
    Private application with selected privileges.
  • Select the following privileges:
    • Portal service > General privileges > Apps and capabilities > Allow beta access
    • Location services > Geocoding > Geocode (stored)
    • Location services > Routing > Simple routing
    • Location services > Elevation > Elevation service
    • Location services > Static maps > Static maps service

Tutorial: Create an API key

3. Configure your MCP client

Configure your MCP client to connect to the MCP server by following the instructions below. The server supports any MCP‑compliant client.

To connect to the MCP server from Microsoft Copilot Studio, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to Microsoft Copilot Studio.
  2. In Agents tab, click + Create blank agent.
  3. Name the agent MCP for ArcGIS Location Services and click Next.
  4. Scroll down to the Tools section and click + Add tool.
  5. Select Add new MCP.
  6. Configure the following:
    • Name: MCP for ArcGIS Location Services
    • Description: An MCP server that provides access to ArcGIS Location Services capabilities such as geocoding, routing, elevation, and map generation.
    • Server URL: https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/beta/mcp
    • Authentication: API key
    • Authentication type: Header
    • Header name: Authorization
  7. Click Create.
  8. Click Not connected > Create new connection to test the connection.
  9. In the empty field, enter Bearer followed by your access token, then click Create. Adding Bearer prefix before pasting access token in the token field
  10. Once the connection is successful, the Not connected status will change to Connected. Click Add and connect.

4. Verify your connection

Verify that your MCP client is connected to the server and can access the available tools and prompts. If your MCP client supports prompts, you can run the following prompt:

Return a list of available tools and prompts in MCP for ArcGIS Location Services.

You should see a list of supported tools and prompts, including geocoding, reverse geocoding, routing, and more.

What’s next?

Explore MCP tools, prompts, and examples to see how you can use ArcGIS capabilities in AI workflows.