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FAQ & Troubleshooting

Common questions, troubleshooting tips, and support resources for Paper

Getting Started

How do I get started?

Download the Paper Desktop app and create a new file. You can start designing right away or connect an AI agent via the MCP server to build designs with natural language.

Troubleshooting

The MCP server isn’t connecting

Make sure you have the Paper Desktop app open with a file loaded — the MCP server starts automatically when a file is open. If issues persist, try restarting both the Paper Desktop app and your agent tool (Cursor, Claude Code, etc.). See the MCP docs for more details.

My agent says it doesn’t have access to Paper tools

This usually happens when the MCP connection is stale. Restart your agent session to re-establish the connection. If you’re using Cursor, try toggling the MCP server off and on in Cursor Settings > Tools & MCP.

Changes aren’t showing up in my design

Make sure you have the correct file open in Paper Desktop. The MCP server operates on the currently open file. You can verify by asking the agent to call get_basic_info to check which file it sees.

Adjust your network settings

When using Paper in a company setting behind proxies, VPNs, or firewalls, you may need to add the following to your allowlist:

  • *.paper.design

Examples of network issues

Keep an eye out for these common signs of network-related issues:

  • Signing in fails or the app can’t load after signing in

Configure a proxy bypass on macOS

When on a Mac behind a proxy you may need to add a bypass for Paper domains:

  1. Open System Settings > Network > select your active network > Details… > Proxies
  2. Add .paper.design under Bypass proxy settings
  3. Apply changes, then restart your browser or the Paper desktop app

Paper Desktop links aren’t opening

When signing in if Paper isn’t being focused afterwards the custom protocol handler to open paper:// links may not be integrated correctly.

Linux AppImage

When running AppImages on Linux they need to be integrated with the desktop to register the custom protocol handler. Use one of the following methods depending on your setup:

  • Gear Lever — Open the AppImage in Gear Lever, then click “Move to the app menu”
  • AppImageLauncher — Double-click the AppImage and select “Integrate and run” when prompted
  • AM / AppMan — Install the AppImage using the am or appman CLI, which creates the desktop entry automatically

If all else fails, try restarting your computer and try again.