Plugin Extensions

OpenAI released MCP Extensions, a set of plugin extensions that let developers hook their plugins into ChatGPT surfaces including the sidebar, composer, and file viewers, with TypeScript and Python SDKs and a formal protocol specification published on GitHub. Plugin extensions on the web are coming soon to ChatGPT Free and Go users, existing plugin functionality is unaffected, and composer mentions are available only in the ChatGPT desktop app. The extensions cover sidebar apps, conversation panels, plugin settings, file viewers and editors, display modes, deep links, Model-App Context, composer mentions, and rich forms.

OpenAI MCP Extensions enables developers to hook their plugins into key surfaces of the ChatGPT user experience, including the sidebar, composer, and file viewers. Plugin extensions on the web are coming soon to ChatGPT Free and Go users. Existing plugin functionality is unaffected. Composer mentions are available only in the ChatGPT desktop app. Try it out Get a feel for extensions with Bits & Bolts https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/tree/main/plugins/bits-and-bolts , our kitchen sink plugin. We’ll keep it up to date as new extensions roll out. Start building Use the GitHub repository for installation, SDK examples, and the full specification. TypeScript SDK https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/typescript/README.md Add extensions to your MCP server and app UI. Python SDK https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/python/README.md Add server-side extensions with the MCP Python SDK. Protocol specification https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md Defines the formal, language-agnostic API that extends the MCP and MCP Apps specifications. Once your server is ready, connect and test your plugin https://developers.openai.com/plugins/deploy/connect-chatgpt , then package it for distribution https://developers.openai.com/plugins/build/plugins . Extension reference Extensions give users new ways to interact with your plugin across ChatGPT. Declaring support for an extension takes just a few lines of SDK code. | | Extension | What users can do | |---|---|---| | | Sidebar apps https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md global-entrypoint | Give users a place to open your app from the sidebar and work in it fullscreen. | | | Conversation panels https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md thread-entrypoint | Let users open your app beside a conversation, keeping their work and chat together. | | | Plugin settings https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md structured-settings | Let users configure your plugin’s product-specific settings from within ChatGPT. | | | File viewers and editors https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md file-extension-entrypoint | Open supported files in your own interface, with reading, live updates, and saving changes handled together. | | | Display modes https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md display-modes | Choose where and how your app appears in ChatGPT conversations. | | | Deep links https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md deep-links | Take users directly to a specific page or item within your sidebar app. | | | Model-App Context https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md uiupdate-model-context-extensions | Keep ChatGPT and your MCP App in sync with bidirectional context sharing. | | | Composer mentions https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md composer-at-mentions | Let users find and select content from your plugin in the ChatGPT desktop composer. | | | Rich forms https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/docs/spec.md openai-form-elicitation | Ask users for structured input or let them choose from images, then return their response to your tool. | Sidebar apps Add an entry to the global sidebar that launches your MCP App fullscreen. Pass this metadata as meta when registering your MCP App tool. Replace ui://parts/library with your registered UI resource URI: python import type { OpenAIUiToolMetadata } from "@openai/mcp-extensions/server"; const toolMetadata = { ui: { resourceUri: "ui://parts/library" }, "openai/ui": { entrypoints: { type: "global" } , } satisfies OpenAIUiToolMetadata, }; Use { type: "thread" } to add an entrypoint in a conversation’s side panel. See the entrypoint guide https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/typescript/README.md ui-entrypoints for full registration examples. File viewers and editors Open your MCP App in the thread side panel when a user opens a file with a supported extension. Use a file entrypoint in your tool’s meta , with the extensions your viewer supports: python import type { OpenAIUiToolMetadata } from "@openai/mcp-extensions/server"; const toolMetadata = { ui: { resourceUri: "ui://parts/viewer" }, "openai/ui": { entrypoints: { type: "file", extensions: "stl" } , } satisfies OpenAIUiToolMetadata, }; Replace ui://parts/viewer with your registered UI resource. The app receives a resource URI for the opened file. Follow the file handler guide https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/typescript/README.md file-extension-handlers to receive that input and read the resource with the app SDK. Rich forms Extend standard MCP forms with richer components native to ChatGPT. python import type { OpenAIForm, OpenAIFormOption, } from "@openai/mcp-extensions/server"; function partSelectionSchema parts: OpenAIFormOption : OpenAIForm { return { type: "object", properties: { part: { type: "string", title: "Part", oneOf: parts, }, }, required: "part" , }; } Pass this schema as requestedSchema in your form request. Each option uses const and title , with an optional x-openai-thumbnail icon. OpenAI-registered MCP servers require multi-round-trip requests MRTR https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2026-07-28/basic/patterns/mrtr . The SDK’s extended forms guide https://github.com/openai/mcp-extensions/blob/main/typescript/README.md form-elicitation shows the legacy elicitInput helper for direct MCP connections. Extensions in the wild See how plugins you already know are building with extensions. Canva Sidebar Tabs enable Canva users to create designs and preview them as a native sidebar feature of ChatGPT. View plugin https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin connector 68df33b1a2d081918778431a9cfca8ba Figma Composer Mentions enable Figma users to search for and mention files directly in the ChatGPT desktop app. View plugin https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin connector 68df038e0ba48191908c8434991bbac2 Adobe File Extension Handlers enable Adobe users to edit files with Acrobat and Photoshop directly in ChatGPT. View plugin https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin asdk app 69312da8e4dc81919370cb86fd172b6c