Troubleshooting
Error codes
| Code | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
teamspace_desktop_only (403) |
The teamspace is in the legacy Desktop only mode: external AI clients are off. | An admin turns on Desktop + MCP at octopus-brain.com/connect — or connect another teamspace. |
not_enabled |
Octopus MCP isn't open for this teamspace yet (early access). | Write to hello@octopus-brain.com. |
teamspace_mcp_only (403) |
Shown by the Octopus app: the teamspace is MCP only, so the app is blocked. | Use Octopus from your AI app, or an admin switches back to Desktop + MCP. |
access_mode_unavailable (409) |
MCP only can't be selected yet. | Choose Desktop + MCP for now. |
confirm_required (409) |
An access-mode change wasn't confirmed. | Confirm the change in the dialog. |
invalid_access_mode (400) |
Unknown access mode. | Pick MCP only or Desktop + MCP. |
invalid_token (401) |
The connection or key expired, was revoked, or your password changed. | Sign in again (below), or generate a new key. |
insufficient_scope (403) |
The connection is read-only and the action writes. | Reconnect and leave Make changes on your behalf on. |
rate_limited (429) |
Too many requests in a short time. | Wait a minute and try again. |
Sign in again
- Claude (web, desktop, mobile): in Customize → Connectors, disconnect Octopus, then click Connect again.
- Claude Code: type
/mcp, select octopus and choose Authenticate. If it keeps failing, clear its authentication from the same menu, or remove and re-add the server:claude mcp remove octopus, then theclaude mcp add …command again. - Cursor: open the MCP settings and log in to Octopus again (or toggle the server off and on).
- Personal key: generate a new key at octopus-brain.com/connect and replace it in your configuration — the header is exactly
Authorization: Bearer osk_ext_….
Other problems
The sign-in window doesn't open. Your browser blocked the pop-up: allow pop-ups for octopus-brain.com, or try again — Octopus then falls back to a full-page sign-in.
"This request has expired." Sign-in requests are valid for 10 minutes. Start the connection again from your AI app.
"Unverified app." Octopus couldn't confirm who publishes the app asking for access. Continue only if you started the connection yourself, from an app you trust.
My teamspace is greyed out on the consent screen. It's in the legacy Desktop only mode, or not open to MCP yet. Admins see a button to turn on Desktop + MCP.
Company network or proxy. The AI app reaches mcp.octopus-brain.com over HTTPS; claude.ai and ChatGPT connect from their own servers, so only your browser's sign-in step goes through your network. It needs octopus-brain.com, accounts.google.com, octopus-brain-504415.firebaseapp.com and *.googleapis.com.
Claude says it can't find something. Ask it to search the brain or the project explicitly, and check you're in the right teamspace (“Which teamspace are you connected to?”).
Results are cut off in Claude Code. Claude Code saves large results to a file; raise MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS to see more inline.
Still stuck? Write to hello@octopus-brain.com with the error code and the app you use.
Need help? Write to hello@octopus-brain.com.