How to add an MCP server to Claude Desktop

Claude

1. 1

   Install Node.js if the server uses npx

   Many servers start with npx. Check with node --version; if it fails, install the LTS version from nodejs.org.

2. 2

   Open the config file

   Click the Claude menu in your system menu bar (not the settings inside the chat window), choose Settings..., open Developer and click Edit Config. The file is:

   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
   • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
   • Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
3. 3

   Add the server under mcpServers

   Each server gets a name, a command and its args. Keys go in env. Use full paths, not relative ones.

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "filesystem": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/username/Desktop"]
       }
     }
   }

   To add a second server, add another entry inside the same mcpServers object.

4. 4

   Quit Claude Desktop completely and reopen it

   Closing the window is not enough. Quit the app (on macOS, Claude menu, Quit) and open it again so it reads the file and starts the server.

5. 5

   Check that it loaded

   Click Add files, connectors, and more (the + at the bottom left of the message box), point to Connectors, choose Manage connectors and select your server to see its tools.

6. 6

   Ask Claude to use it

   Claude asks for your approval before each action the server takes.

   PromptCopy

   What files are in my Desktop folder? Group them by type.

Claude

1. 1

   Get the server address

   Hosted servers have an address like https://mcp.linear.app/mcp. The server must be reachable from the public internet, because Claude connects to it from Anthropic's cloud, not from your computer.

   Uses Linear

2. 2

   Open Connectors

   Go to Customize, then Connectors. On Team and Enterprise plans an owner adds the connector first under Organization settings, then Connectors, and members click Connect on it.

3. 3

   Add a custom connector

   Click + Add, then Add custom connector. Enter a name and the server URL, then click Continue.

4. 4

   Choose how it signs in

   Review the settings Claude detected. Under Authentication pick Sign in now, Sign in when needed or No sign in. If the service uses an API key instead, add it under Request headers. Click Add.

5. 5

   Turn it on in a chat

   In a conversation, click +, then Connectors, and switch the connector on. Use the Search and tools menu to turn off any tools you do not want Claude to use in that chat.

   PromptCopy

   Using Linear, list my open issues due this week, highest priority first.

   Uses Linear

1. 1
   Context7OfficialHosted or LocalAPI key

   Current library docs for Claude Desktop, by hosted URL or a local npx command.

   64,001 GitHub stars
2. 2
   Playwright MCPOfficialLocal

   Lets Claude open pages and click through sites in a real browser on your computer.

   38,887 GitHub stars
3. 3
   Firecrawl MCP ServerOfficialHosted or LocalAPI key

   Turns web pages into clean text for Claude, using your Firecrawl key.

   190,711/wk downloads a week
4. 4C
   Canva MCPOfficialHostedOAuth

   Search, create and edit Canva designs after you sign in.
5. 5
   Exa MCP ServerOfficialHosted or LocalOAuth

   Web search built for AI, hosted by Exa.

   5.2K GitHub stars
6. 6
   LinearOfficialHostedOAuth

   Read and update Linear issues as a custom connector.
7. 7
   Notion MCPOfficialHostedOAuth

   Search and edit your Notion pages through Notion's hosted server.

Claude Desktop runs both local servers from its config file and hosted servers as custom connectors, on every plan. The main limit is the hand-edited JSON file, which needs a full restart after each change, while custom connectors connect from Anthropic's cloud and cannot reach private networks.