Connect Cursor

Cursor connects to RankKit SEO's MCP server directly over HTTP. You add one entry to an mcp.json file with your site's endpoint and an agent token, and Cursor's agent can then audit and edit your WordPress SEO.

Cursor runs on your computer, so it can also reach a local or staging site.

Before you start

Turn on agent access in RankKit SEO → AI Agents → Allow AI agents to connect. See Connect an AI agent.

Step 1: Create a token

1. Go to RankKit SEO → AI Agents and click Create token.
2. Name it, for example "Cursor", pick an expiry and a Permissions preset, and click Create token.

The token is shown once, and RankKit SEO fills it into the snippets in the Connect an AI client card. See Agent tokens, scopes and access levels.

Step 2: Add RankKit SEO to mcp.json

Open the Cursor tab in the Connect an AI client card and copy the snippet:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rankkit": {
      "url": "https://example.com/wp-json/speedrank/v1/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer sr_your_token_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add it to one of these files:

File	Use it when
~/.cursor/mcp.json (in your home folder)	You want RankKit SEO in every project you open in Cursor.
.cursor/mcp.json (in a project)	You want RankKit SEO only in that project, for example your theme's repository.

If the file already lists other servers, add only the "rankkit": { … } entry inside mcpServers.

Important Don't commit a project's .cursor/mcp.json with a real token to a shared repository. Anyone who can read the file can use the token until it expires or you revoke it.

Step 3: Check that it works

Open Cursor's chat and ask:

Run site_overview and summarise my site's SEO.

Cursor calls the RankKit SEO tool and answers with your site's name, modules, content counts and audit score. In wp-admin, the token's Last used column shows when it was last used and how many calls it made, and the Activity card on RankKit SEO → AI Agents lists the call.

Tips for working in Cursor

• Ask for a preview first: every write tool accepts dry_run, which returns the old and new values without saving.
• With Agents' changes need my approval on, Cursor's edits wait in RankKit SEO → Change Log until you approve them. See Approval mode, dry runs and undo.
• The ready-made workflows are offered to Cursor as MCP prompts.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
"Invalid or expired RankKit SEO agent token."	The token is wrong, revoked or expired.	Create a new token and update mcp.json.
"Authentication required: send Authorization: Bearer ."	The header didn't reach WordPress.	Check the headers block, or send the token as X-RankKit-Token if your server strips the Authorization header.
Fewer tools than expected	The token's permissions hide tools it can't use.	Create a token with the areas you need.

See Fix MCP connection problems for every error message.

FAQ

Should I use the global or the project mcp.json?

Use the project file if you only work on the site from one project, and the global file if you want RankKit SEO available everywhere. Either way, use a separate token per site.

Can Cursor change my theme files through RankKit SEO?

No. RankKit SEO's tools work on SEO data: titles, descriptions, keywords, schema, redirects, robots.txt rules, sitemaps and similar settings. A few tools touch post content (inserting a FAQ block, and with Pro inserting an internal link or fixing a broken link), and ai_write_draft creates a new draft post. Content edits are logged in the Change Log and can be reverted.