Custom MCP connector shows "Connected" but tools not available in Claude Code (VSCode)
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
- [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
- [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code
What's Wrong?
I added a custom MCP connector for Artlist (https://mcp.artlist.io/mcp) in Settings → Connectors, both as a personal connection and later as an organization-wide custom connector. In both cases:
The connector shows status Connected with a green checkmark.
Tool permissions are visible and set to "Always allow" (e.g. Generate image, Generate video, Generate voice-over, Get balance, Confirm upload, Open upload panel, Get generation status — 14 tools total).
Individual sign-in was completed successfully (OAuth flow finished, redirected back to claude.ai).
However, in Claude Code running as a VSCode extension, none of the Artlist tools ever appear as available/deferred tools, even after:
Re-authorizing the connector
Disconnecting and reconnecting
Re-adding it as an org-wide custom connector
Starting multiple new conversations
(Have not yet tried a full restart of the VSCode application itself)
Other claude.ai connectors (e.g. Microsoft 365) do load correctly and their tools are available in the same Claude Code session, so this seems specific to this custom connector or to how newly added custom connectors sync into Claude Code.
Environment: Claude Code (VSCode extension), macOS (Darwin 23.2.0)
Account: [hylke@sport-connect.nl](mailto:hylke@sport-connect.nl) (Sport Connect organization)
Connector URL: https://mcp.artlist.io/mcp
What Should Happen?
Custom MCP connector shows "Connected" but tools not available in Claude Code (VSCode)
Error Messages/Logs
Steps to Reproduce
Custom MCP connector shows "Connected" but tools not available in Claude Code (VSCode)
Claude Model
None
Is this a regression?
Yes, this worked in a previous version
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
?
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
macOS
Terminal/Shell
Terminal.app (macOS)
Additional Information
_No response_