Update records

Update records

Changes only the fields you pass on existing records, leaving the rest as they were, and returns the updated records.

A PUT to the same path clears every field you leave out, so use PATCH. On the API, set performUpsert with fieldsToMergeOn, such as an email field, to update the record that matches or create one when none does; the request fails when several records match. The MCP tool and the CLI update records by id and take field ids.

Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

MCP (official, remote)

Add this server to your agent's MCP settings, then sign in when asked.

{ "mcpServers": { "airtable": { "url": "https://mcp.airtable.com/mcp" } } }

Call the MCP tool update_records_for_table.

Server URL: https://mcp.airtable.com/mcp

CLI (official)

Install the command, then confirm it runs.

npm install -g @airtable/mcp-cli
airtable-mcp --version

Run airtable-mcp update-records-for-table.

Set $AIRTABLE_TOKEN in your environment first (get a key: https://airtable.com/create/tokens).

API (official)

• Base URL: https://api.airtable.com
• Endpoint: PATCH /v0/{baseId}/{tableIdOrName}
• Auth: send the header Authorization: Bearer $AIRTABLE_TOKEN
• Get a key: https://airtable.com/create/tokens
• Docs: https://airtable.com/developers/web/api/introduction

Before doing anything else, make one read-only call to confirm access.

Rules

• Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data.
• Never print API keys.