> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.zapier.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Switch between agentic and managed mode

> Switch a Zapier MCP server between agentic mode and managed mode, review what changes in each direction, and refresh your client's tool list afterward.

Change which mode your Zapier MCP server runs in, and refresh your MCP client so it picks up the new tool list. For what each mode is and why you would pick one, go to [How Zapier MCP tools work](/mcp/overview/how-tools-work).

## Before you begin

* A Zapier MCP server. If you do not have one yet, go to the [quickstart](/mcp/get-started/quickstart).
* Owner or Editor access to the server.

## Switch the mode

1. Go to [mcp.zapier.com](https://mcp.zapier.com) and select your server.
2. Click the <img src="https://cdn.zapier.com/storage/photos/3451c46a93d480da52444589a8fc84ff.png" alt="settings icon" noZoom style={{ display: "inline-block", width: "14px", margin: "0 0.15em", verticalAlign: "baseline" }} /> **Settings** tab.
3. Select **Agentic mode** or **Managed mode**.
4. Click **Save changes**.

## What changes when you switch

| Direction          | What happens                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Agentic to managed | Skills and code actions become unavailable. They are not deleted: switching back to agentic restores them. Every enabled action becomes its own dedicated tool, so your client may show many more individual tools. |
| Managed to agentic | Meta-tools and dynamic tool discovery come back. Skills become usable again. Your client no longer lists every action as a separate tool.                                                                           |

In both modes, any account-level or workspace-level app and action restrictions still apply.

## Refresh your client's tool list

Switching modes changes the tools your server exposes, but most MCP clients cache the tool list. Refresh it right after you switch, in either direction, so your agent is not working from a stale list:

* **ChatGPT:** Go to [Connector Settings](https://chatgpt.com/#settings/Connectors), select your Zapier connector, and select **Refresh**.
* **Claude Desktop:** Restart the application. Claude also refreshes automatically within a few hours, but do not wait for that. Restart it so your tool list is current immediately.
* **Cursor or VS Code:** Reload the window or restart the editor.
* **Other clients:** Check the client's documentation for how to refresh the MCP tool list.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="How Zapier MCP tools work" href="/mcp/overview/how-tools-work">
    What agentic mode and managed mode are, and when to use each.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tools are missing in your MCP client" href="/mcp/troubleshoot/tools-missing-in-client">
    Fix a stale or missing tool list for reasons other than a mode switch.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>