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Use Instacart's MCP server

The Instacart Model Context Protocol (MCP) server enables AI assistants and other MCP-compatible applications to access Instacart shopping capabilities. Use the MCP client and natural language to engage in common shopping workflows.

Requirements​

  • A compatible MCP client that supports OAuth authentication and the transport exposed by your Instacart MCP deployment.
  • Familiarity with Instacart's data handling guidelines for rendering sensitive information.

Managing access​

For onboarding, access provisioning, rate limits, and monitoring, contact your Instacart representative.

Troubleshooting​

Authentication fails​

  • Try logging out and logging back in to Instacart through your MCP client.
  • Verify your account has the necessary permissions.
  • Try removing and re-adding the Instacart MCP server integration in your client.

Tool calls fail or return incomplete data​

  • Confirm your client is reading tool schemas from tools/list (schemas may evolve).
  • Ensure your client correctly renders UI components for fields like pricing, ETAs, and images.
  • Verify you are using the correct MCP endpoint URL.

Support​

Instacart can provide the following resources upon request.

  • Instacart MCP integration guide
  • Instacart data handling documentation

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