---
title: "SignNow MCP Server tools"
url: "https://docs.signnow.com/docs/mcp-tools"
type: "page"
section: "Documentation"
slug: "mcp-tools"
---

# SignNow MCP Server tools

# SignNow MCP Server tools

Full catalog of the tools the SignNow MCP server exposes to your AI assistant, grouped by category. Example prompts and troubleshooting notes are at the bottom.

> To list the available tools in your client, enter a prompt like `list available signnow tools`. Or use an MCP client (e.g., Inspector) to view full tool schemas.

---

## Templates and document creation

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `list_all_templates` | List templates and template groups with simplified metadata. Supports `limit`/`offset` pagination (default: 50 items per page). |
| `create_from_template` | Make a document or a group from a template/group. |
| `create_template` | Convert a document or document group into a reusable template for signing. |
| `upload_document` | Upload a document from a local file path (`file_path`), public URL (`file_url`), or MCP resource attachment (`resource_uri`). For `file_path`, the resolved path must stay within the configured safe base directory (by default, the user's home directory); paths outside that base fail validation. Supported formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG. Maximum size: 40 MB. Returns `document_id`, `filename`, `source`. |

---

## Document management

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `list_documents` | Browse your documents, document groups, and statuses. Supports filtering by status (`filter`: `signed`, `pending`, `waiting-for-me`, `waiting-for-others`, `unsent`), expiration (`expired_filter`: `all`, `expired`, `not-expired`), folder (`folder_id`), and sorting (`sortby`: `updated`, `created`, `document-name`, combined with `order`: `asc` or `desc`). Supports `limit`/`offset` pagination (default: 50 items per page, max 100). |
| `get_document` | Normalized document/group structure with field values. |
| `view_document` | Generate a read-only embedded view link for a document or document group. Use it to preview the file before sending an invite. In MCP Apps-compatible clients the document renders inline; in other hosts the link is returned as a clickable URL. Optional `link_expiration_minutes` (43,200–518,400; default: 30 days). |
| `update_document_fields` | Pre-fill text fields in individual documents. Only text-type fields are supported. |
| `rename_entity` | Rename a document, document group, template, or template group. Auto-detects entity type when not provided. |
| `get_document_download_link` | Direct download link (merged output for groups). |

---

## Contacts

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `list_contacts` | Search contacts by name, email, or phone. Returns `id`, `email`, first/last name, and company. Use before `send_invite` to resolve a recipient's email address by their name. Supports `per_page` (default 15, max 100). |

---

## Send invites

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `send_invite` | Send email invites for documents or document groups. Supports ordered recipients. Auto-detects freeform documents (no fields); omit the `role` parameter for freeform recipients. Pass `self_sign=True` (with no orders) to sign the document yourself. The tool resolves your email server-side and returns a `SendInviteResponse` with a `link` field holding a ready-to-open signing URL. The same `link` is populated when a freeform recipient email matches the authenticated user. For templates or template groups, the tool auto-creates a document or document group first. The tool is designed for confirmed sends. Your AI assistant will typically prompt you to preview the document (via `view_document`) and confirm the recipients before invoking it. Set `preview_was_shown=True` once you have reviewed the preview. |
| `get_invite_status` | Current invite status/steps for a document or group. Covers field invites and freeform invites (field path preferred when both exist). The response includes `invite_mode` (`field` or `freeform`). For freeform document groups, signer emails come from the group documents list (`signature_requests`). |
| `get_signing_link` | Get a signing link for a document or document group that is already awaiting the user's signature. The document must have at least one fillable field. |
| `send_invite_reminder` | Send a signing reminder to pending signers on a document or document group. By default, reminds all pending signers; pass `email` to remind a single recipient. Optional `subject` and `message` override the default reminder email content. |
| `update_invite_recipient` | Replace the signing recipient on a pending field invite. Pass `current_email` and `new_email`; for multi-role documents, pass `role` to match a specific step. For documents, the tool deletes the old invite, creates a replacement, and immediately emails the new recipient. For document groups, it updates the pending step(s) in place. Field invites only. Freeform and embedded invites are not supported. |
| `cancel_invite` | Cancel all active (pending) signing invites on a document or document group. Auto-detects both entity type (tries `document_group` first) and invite type (field vs. freeform). Accepts an optional `reason` string. Returns one of three statuses: `cancelled`, `completed` (invite already finished), or `invite_not_sent`. |

---

## Embedded experiences

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `create_embedded_invite` | Embedded signing session without email delivery for documents, groups, or templates. For template/template group, it auto-creates a document or document group first. |
| `create_embedded_sending` | Embedded "sending/management" experience for documents, groups, or templates. For template/template group, it auto-creates a document or document group first. |
| `create_embedded_editor` | Embedded editor link to place/adjust fields for documents, groups, or templates. For template/template group, it auto-creates a document or document group first. |

---

## Example prompts

**Example 1: Upload and send a document for signature**

**User prompt:** Upload contract.pdf from my Desktop and send it to client@example.com for signing.

**What happens:**
- Server uploads the document from the local file path to your SignNow account.
- Generates a read-only view link so you can preview the file before sending.
- Sends an email invite to the recipient. For documents without predefined fields, the recipient signs in freeform mode.

SignNow tools: `upload_document`, `view_document`, `send_invite`

> Tip: If you plan to reuse the uploaded document later, follow up with `create_template` to convert it into a reusable template.

---

**Example 2: Send a document from a template with preview**

**User prompt:** Send the Employee NDA template to john@example.com for signature.

**What happens:**
- Server searches your templates and identifies the matching template.
- Creates a new document instance from the template.
- Generates a preview link so you can review the document before sending.
- After your confirmation, sends the email invite to the recipient.

SignNow tools: `list_all_templates`, `create_from_template`, `view_document`, `send_invite`

---

**Example 3: Send an existing document for signature**

**User prompt:** Find the Lease Agreement document in my account and send it to tenant@example.com.

**What happens:**
- Server lists your documents and locates the Lease Agreement.
- Generates a preview link so you can confirm it is the correct document.
- Sends an email invite to the recipient.

SignNow tools: `list_documents`, `view_document`, `send_invite`

---

**Example 4: Check status and remind a pending signer**

**User prompt:** Check the status of the Employee NDA document and remind anyone who has not signed yet.

**What happens:**
- Server retrieves the invite status and identifies completed and pending signing steps.
- Reports who has signed and who is still pending.
- Sends a reminder email to pending recipients.

SignNow tools: `list_documents`, `get_invite_status`, `send_invite_reminder`

---

**Example 5: Cancel a mistake and resend**

**User prompt:** I sent the Sales Contract to the wrong email. Cancel it and resend to correct@example.com.

**What happens:**
- Server cancels all active (pending) invites on the document.
- Sends a new email invite to the corrected recipient.

SignNow tools: `cancel_invite`, `send_invite`

> Tip: If only the recipient address needs to change (and the invite is still pending on a field-based document), use `update_invite_recipient` instead.

---

**Example 6: Generate a quick signing link**

**User prompt:** Create a quick signing link for the Employee NDA contract that is waiting for my signature.

**What happens:**
- Server lists your documents and locates the Employee NDA awaiting your signature.
- Returns a direct signing URL.
- You can open the link in any browser or share it through other channels (for example, Slack) to sign without going through email.

SignNow tools: `list_documents`, `get_signing_link`

---

## See also

- [Overview](/docs/mcp-server)
- [Quick start](/docs/mcp-quick-start)
- [Local setup](/docs/mcp-local-setup)
- [Hosted setup](/docs/mcp-hosted-setup)


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*Full page: https://docs.signnow.com/docs/mcp-tools*