LlamaParse MCP — Usage Guide

Authentication

All tools require a valid session. If a tool call returns an authentication error, ask the user to re-authenticate before retrying. Do not retry automatically without prompting the user.

The server runs as two regional deployments — https://mcp.llamaindex.ai/mcp for accounts on cloud.llamaindex.ai, and https://mcp.eu.llamaindex.ai/mcp for accounts on cloud.eu.llamaindex.ai. Region follows the user's LlamaCloud account, so it is not something to switch mid-session. A token issued for one region is rejected by the other with a 401 that names the correct endpoint; when that happens, tell the user to point their client at the endpoint named in the error rather than retrying.

Uploading a File

Every operation (parse, classify, split) requires a fileId obtained by uploading first. There are two upload paths — choose based on where the file lives:

• File accessible via URL — use uploadFileByUrl. Pass the direct download URL and a descriptive file name. This is the preferred path when the user shares a link.
• Local or binary file — call getUploadUrl first to obtain a pre-signed upload URL and token, then POST the file to the returned endpoint. The token is valid for 10 minutes; complete the upload before it expires.

For getUploadUrl, always set purpose to match the intended downstream operation ('parse', 'classify', 'split', etc.) so the server can apply the right storage policy.

Choosing What to Do with a File