Linear MCP, Linear's hosted server for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor
Lets Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor find, create and update your Linear issues, projects and comments. You sign in with your Linear account, with nothing to install.
This is Linear's own server, and Linear runs it for you. You can ask your assistant to search issues, create them, comment, and plan projects. The default address can change your workspace as you, so use the read-only address if you only need lookups. Responses are large and can use up a lot of your assistant's working memory.
Good for
- Developers who want to read and update tickets from Claude Code, Codex or Cursor
- Product and engineering managers who want plans turned into projects and issues
- Teams that want standup notes or bug findings posted back to issues
- Anyone who would rather not create an API key or run software locally
Works in
5 supported · 3 with issues · 6 should work
Tap an app to see how to set it up and any known problems.
Linear's docs cover it: open Connectors in Claude settings, add Linear, then sign in. linear.app
Linear's docs cover it through the mcp-remote bridge, added with MCP: Add Server. linear.app
Linear's docs cover it: add a custom server under Cascade that runs the mcp-remote bridge. linear.app
Linear's page describes a ChatGPT connector used as a source in deep research; it does not describe write access. linear.app
Linear's docs cover it: add a custom context server in Zed settings that runs the mcp-remote bridge. linear.app
Linear's docs cover it. Linear can show as not connected after /compact until you reconnect.
Known problems
- Open
Linear shows as not connected after /compact until you reconnect it
Workaround: Open the Connectors panel, disconnect Linear and connect it again.
Since Sep 2026 · GitHub
- Closed
Linear plugin with a saved sign-in does not connect when a new session starts
Workaround: Run /reload-plugins; it connects with the stored token.
Reported Jun 2026 · GitHub
- Closed
Bursts of parallel issue creation through the claude.ai connector got blocked by Cloudflare
Reported May 2026 · GitHub
Linear's docs cover it. The connection can drop until you toggle the server off and on.
Known problems
- Open
Asks you to sign in again about once a week in the Cursor CLI
Since Jun 2026 · forum.cursor.com
- Fixed
Linear tools from the marketplace plugin did not show up in the Cursor CLI
Workaround: Update to the latest Cursor CLI.
Reported May 2026 · forum.cursor.com
- Open
Connection drops after a while with an SSE error until you toggle the server off and on
Workaround: Toggle the Linear MCP server off and on in Cursor Settings.
Since Jan 2026 · forum.cursor.com
Linear's docs cover it. Sign-in can fail in containers, and several workspaces keep losing sign-in.
Known problems
- Closed
Codex agents keep asking to connect Linear again after access was granted
Workaround: In Linear, Settings, Administration, Applications, remove the Codex authorization and connect again.
Reported Aug 2026 · GitHub
- Open
Sign-in fails at once with "No authorization support detected" in headless Linux containers
Workaround: A maintainer suggests installing ca-certificates in the container.
Since Jul 2026 · GitHub
- Open
Several Linear entries with the same URL keep losing their sign-in
Workaround: Use a per-workspace Linear API key via bearer_token_env_var instead of OAuth.
Since Jun 2026 · GitHub
Supports hosted MCP servers.
Supports hosted MCP servers.
Supports hosted MCP servers.
Supports hosted MCP servers.
Supports hosted MCP servers.
Supports hosted MCP servers.
Install Linear MCP
Claude Code
- 1
Copy this prompt.
Add the Linear MCP server to Claude Code. Run this command: claude mcp add --transport http linear-server https://mcp.linear.app/mcp Then check that it loaded and tell me if I need to sign in or restart.
- 2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.
Requires Linear account.
Read-only mode: Want it to only read? Add https://mcp.linear.app/mcp/readonly instead of https://mcp.linear.app/mcp. It only exposes read tools.
Run /mcp inside Claude Code after adding the server, pick linear-server and finish the sign-in in your browser. If sign-in gets stuck, use Clear authentication in /mcp or run claude mcp logout linear-server, then sign in again. The ~/.mcp-auth folder in Linear's FAQ belongs to the mcp-remote bridge, not to Claude Code.
From the vendor's docs. Source.
Tools
We don't list Linear MCP's tools here yet. After you connect it, ask your assistant "What can you do with Linear MCP?" to see them.
Pros and cons
Good
- Nothing to install: sign in with your Linear account on a URL Linear hosts
- Built and run by Linear, so it stays current with the product
- Works with Claude, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf and Zed
- Read-only address, read-only scope or read-only API key keep it from changing anything
- API key option works for headless setups and app users
- Okta-managed sign-in is available for enterprise workspaces
Watch out
- Large responses use a lot of context, with no way to shrink them
- One sign-in covers one workspace
- Connections drop or need reconnecting in several apps
- No published tool list, source code or rate limits
- The default address can write, so read-only is opt-in
Permissions
medium risk · 4 things to watch
Medium risk
With the default address, an assistant can create and edit issues, projects and comments as you. Use the read-only address unless you want it to make changes, and check each change before you approve it.
What it can do
- Read your data
- Create and change things
- Delete things
- Read-only modeHow to turn it on
Watch out for
Default endpoint can change your workspace
The default address has read-write access, so an agent can create and edit issues, projects and comments as you. Use the read-only address when you only need lookups. linear.app
Saved sign-in lives on your machine
Apps that use the mcp-remote bridge keep your token under ~/.mcp-auth. Linear's fix for connect errors is to delete that folder and sign in again. linear.app
Okta-managed sign-in for enterprises
Workspaces on Okta SAML can require MCP apps to sign in under Okta access policies. linear.app
Server code is not public
Linear hosts the server and does not publish its source or a full tool list, so you cannot audit it or pin a version. linear.app
Security advisories
No published security advisories as of Nov 1, 2026.
Technical details
| Turning on read-only | Connect to https://mcp.linear.app/mcp/readonly, which only exposes read tools, or request only the read OAuth scope on /mcp. You can also pass a Linear API key that has only the Read permission as a Bearer token. |
|---|---|
| Talks to | mcp.linear.app |
| Sign-in and keys | Sign in with your Linear account in the browser. Clients that use the mcp-remote bridge keep the sign-in token under ~/.mcp-auth. |
Alternatives
Use Linear's own server unless its large responses are a problem. The community streamlinear server claims far smaller tool definitions, and Atlassian Rovo or GitHub fit teams that track work in Jira or GitHub Issues instead.
| Server | Official | Runs | Sign-in | Can change things | GitHub stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Linear | |||||
| LinearThis page | Official | Hosted | Account | Yes | – |
| MCP Linear (tacticlaunch) | Community | Local | API key | Yes | 148 |
| Other tools for the same job | |||||
| streamlinear | Community | – | – | Yes | 90 |
| Atlassian RovoFor Atlassian | Official | Hosted | Account | Yes | 1.1K |
| GitHubFor GitHub | Official | HostedLocal | Account | Yes | 34.1K |
What people say
People like how little setup it takes and dislike how many tokens it uses and how often connections drop.
What people like
- Hosted by Linear with sign-in through your Linear account, so there is nothing to install
- Developers use it to keep ticket work inside a terminal agent
- Teams report using it in production to file bug reports as Linear tasks
- Simple enough that some users dropped dedicated agent task trackers for it
Common complaints
- Responses are large: one issue lookup returns 31 fields and nothing lets you trim them
- Connections drop or need a fresh sign-in in several apps
- One sign-in covers one workspace, so several workspaces need separate setups
In their words
“The linear MCP is amazing to work with as it lets me keep all my workflows in the terminal.”victor9000Hacker NewsSep 2026
“That's what we used in our product - a bug report tool that uses Linear MCP to create a task. Works great.”tbrntbqmHacker NewsApr 2026
“I tried Beads and it kept breaking in such frustratingly random ways that I just added a Linear MCP server and called it a day. That's really all you need.”dbbkBlogSep 2026
“I’m not as big of a fan when it comes to their token-hungry MCP server though. I recently switched to this (unofficial) CLI and my rough estimate is that it saves me between 5k to 25k tokens a session.”
2 more quotesFewer quotes
“Funny you mention Linear’s specifically, I just posted about moving to a CLI instead because of the MCP’s egregious token-usage”shibelGitHub issueSep 2026
“The only way to recover was to open the Connectors panel, disconnect Linear, and connect it again. After that, the Linear tools worked normally in the same session.”rodrigojranastacio
Questions
What is the Linear MCP server URL?
https://mcp.linear.app/mcp. The older https://mcp.linear.app/sse address is a fallback for apps that cannot use the first one.
Is the Linear MCP server free?
Linear lists no separate price for it. In Claude, Linear's docs list the connector for Team and Enterprise on claude.ai and Free and Pro in Claude desktop.
Is it safe to connect Linear to my AI assistant?
By default it can create and edit issues, projects and comments as you. Use the read-only address if you only need lookups, and check changes before you approve them.
Can I give the AI read-only access to Linear?
Yes. Connect to https://mcp.linear.app/mcp/readonly, request only the read permission when you sign in, or use a Linear API key that has only the Read permission.
Can I use an API key instead of signing in through the browser?
Yes. Send a Linear API key or token in an Authorization: Bearer header. This also works for app users and setups with no browser.
How do I connect more than one Linear workspace?
Each sign-in covers one workspace. With the mcp-remote bridge, give each workspace its own config folder and sign in to each; one Codex user used a separate API key per workspace.
Why do I get an internal server error when connecting?
Linear says to delete the saved sign-in folder ~/.mcp-auth and connect again, and to update Node if it is old. That folder is used by the mcp-remote bridge. In Claude Code, use Clear authentication in /mcp instead and sign in again.
The connection dropped or stopped responding. What do I do?
Disconnect and reconnect the server in your app's MCP settings. Linear says this does not affect your data or sign-in. Cursor users report toggling the server off and on.
Why does it use so much context?
One user measured update responses about 14 times larger than an unofficial CLI's. Looking up an issue returns 31 fields and no tool lets you shrink responses.
Does Linear work with ChatGPT?
Linear describes a ChatGPT connector that adds Linear as a source in deep research. It is for Plus and Pro (outside the EEA, Switzerland and the UK) and Team, Enterprise and Edu plans.
Examples
Turn a planning document into a Linear project with issues and milestones, reviewed before anything is created.
Read this planning doc, propose a Linear project with milestones and issues, show me the plan, then create it once I approve.
SourcePost standup notes as comments on the matching Linear issues.
Match these standup notes to existing Linear issues, show me the comment for each, then post them and list anything you could not match.
SourceInvestigate a reported bug and write the findings back on the issue.
Investigate LIN-123, find the likely root cause, and post a short summary of your findings as a comment on the issue.
SourceSummarize what a team finished in the last cycle.
Summarize what team LIN completed in its most recent cycle: main themes, bugs fixed and projects moved forward.
Source
Information
updated Nov 2, 2026
- Publisher
- Linear (official)
- Endpoint
https://mcp.linear.app/mcp- Transport
- Streamable HTTP
- Auth
- OAuth
- Version
- 1.0.2
- Listed in
- Official MCP registry, Docker MCP Catalog
WebsiteMCP server docsOfficial MCP RegistryLaunch announcement
Other Linear MCP servers
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from. Issues, quotes and findings above link to their own source.
Show all 16Hide
- Linear MCP server · linear.app
- Connect Claude Code to tools via MCP · code.claude.com
- Linear MCP Server · linear.app
- Replacing Linear MCP with linear-CLI · thebiglog.com
- Linear for ChatGPT · linear.app
- Codex Linear workspaces · github.com
- Cursor forum: Linear MCP errors · forum.cursor.com
- Linear for VS Code · linear.app
- Community post · github.com
- Community post · news.ycombinator.com
- Community post · news.ycombinator.com
- Community post · news.ycombinator.com
- Community post · news.ycombinator.com
- streamlinear · github.com
- MCP Linear · github.com
- linear-mcp-server (deprecated) · github.com