How to Add an MCP Server to Claude (Code, Web and Desktop)

Claude Code

Add a remote server with one command:

claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp

If the server uses an API key, pass it as a header:

claude mcp add --transport http secure-api https://api.example.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer your-token"

Add a local server by putting its start command after --:

claude mcp add --env AIRTABLE_API_KEY=YOUR_KEY --transport stdio airtable \
  -- npx -y airtable-mcp-server

If the server uses sign-in, run /mcp inside Claude Code and follow the browser login. Run claude mcp list to check that a server is healthy.

Choosing a scope

• Local (default): this project only, private to you.
• Project (--scope project): saved in .mcp.json so your team shares it through git.
• User (--scope user): available in all your projects.

Claude on the web and desktop app

1. Go to Customize > Connectors.
2. Click + Add, then Add custom connector.
3. Enter a name and the remote MCP server URL, then continue.
4. Review the authentication settings and choose a sign-in option. If the server uses an API key, add it under Request headers.
5. Click Add.
6. In a chat, click + in the lower left, select Connectors and switch it on.

Free plans are limited to one custom connector. On Team and Enterprise plans, an Owner adds the connector first and members then connect to it. Claude reaches these servers from Anthropic's cloud rather than your computer, so the server has to be available on the public internet. See Anthropic's connector guide.

Local servers in Claude Desktop

Local servers go in claude_desktop_config.json. On macOS it is in ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/, and on Windows in %APPDATA%\Claude\.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/folder"]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop after saving the file. These local servers are not available in Claude on the web.

Good servers to start with

See our picks for coding, web search and memory. If something fails, try our troubleshooting guide.

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