How to make a video with Claude: step-by-step guide (2026)

This guide shows two ways to make a finished video with Claude: in the Claude Video app, where Claude is the built-in director, and inside Claude itself (Claude.ai, Claude Desktop or Claude Code) through our MCP server. Both end with an MP4 you can post anywhere.

Option A: in the Claude Video app

1. Create a free account at claudevideo.io. No credit card is needed for the free plan.
2. Paste your product URL, or describe your product in one sentence.
3. Pick a format (16:9, 9:16 or 1:1), a length and an art-direction style. Your brand colors are detected automatically.
4. Claude Opus 5.5 researches the product and writes the storyboard: scenes, copy, timing and transitions.
5. Preview the film live in the browser. Edit any word, color or scene by hand, or ask: “make the opening punchier”.
6. Export the MP4. Free exports are 720p; paid plans go up to 1080p or 4K.

Option B: inside Claude with MCP

1. On a Pro or Studio plan, create an API key in Dashboard → Settings → API keys.
2. Add a remote MCP server named claude-video pointing to https://claudevideo.io/api/mcp, with your key as a Bearer token.
3. In Claude, choose your model (Opus 5.5 is a good default) and ask: “Make a 30-second launch film for acme.app.”
4. Claude calls create_video, checks key frames with preview_frame and adjusts the storyboard.
5. When you are happy, ask Claude to render. It calls render_video and returns the download link.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-video": {
      "url": "https://claudevideo.io/api/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer cv_live_…" }
    }
  }
}

Prompts that work well

• Make a 40-second launch film for acme.app. Hook on the hours saved, show the dashboard, end on the free trial.
• Turn these release notes into a 30-second changelog video, 16:9.
• Five 15-second vertical hooks for TikTok, one idea each.
• Same video, square, with a stronger first two seconds.

Tips for better results

• Give Claude your real URL: screenshots and copy from your site beat a generic description.
• Say who the video is for and where it will run. A LinkedIn teaser and a Product Hunt video need different pacing.
• Ask for one change at a time when editing, and look at frames before rendering.
• Keep on-screen lines short. If a line takes more than two seconds to read, ask Claude to cut it.