Update records

Update records

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

Note: Use PATCH: a PUT to the same path clears every field you leave out. The MCP tool and the CLI need record ids and field ids, and an API upsert with performUpsert fails when several records match.

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 anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

Rules

• Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
• Never print API keys.