How to install MCP servers in Claude Desktop (step by step)

Add any MCP server to Claude Desktop: where claude_desktop_config.json lives on macOS and Windows, an example config, and troubleshooting.

Before you start

You need the Claude Desktop app. Most servers also need Node.js (for npx commands) or Python with uv (for uvx commands); the server’s README says which.

1. Open the config file

Click the Claude menu in your system’s menu bar (not the settings inside the chat window) and choose Settings…, then open Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json. On macOS it is at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json, on Windows at %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json.

2. Add the server

Add an entry under mcpServers. This example adds the official Filesystem server with access to one folder:

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

3. Restart and check

Quit Claude Desktop completely and open it again. In the chat box, click Add files, connectors, and more, open Connectors → Manage connectors and select your server to see its tools. If it does not connect, read the logs (mcp.log and mcp-server-NAME.log) in ~/Library/Logs/Claude on macOS or %APPDATA%\Claude\logs on Windows.

Tips

• Use absolute paths.
• Put API keys in an env object inside the server entry.
• Many server pages on Socketlist show a ready-made config copied from the README.