How to install MCP servers in Claude Desktop

Who is this for?

Claude Desktop users who want to connect Claude to files, tools, APIs, browser automation, or private data sources.

Claude Desktop MCP settings JSON

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

Prefer servers with a clear install command, low risk, and a GitHub or registry source.

Open Claude settings and find the MCP configuration file or developer settings.

Add the server under mcpServers, keeping command and args split correctly.

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

Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop so MCP servers reload.

If tools do not appear, check JSON syntax, command availability, and required tokens.

Command not found

Install the runtime required by the MCP command, then run the command in terminal first.

Invalid JSON

Check commas, quotes, and that mcpServers is the top-level object.

Server not showing

Restart Claude Desktop and check logs for MCP startup errors.

Does Claude Desktop use MCP JSON?

Yes. Claude Desktop uses JSON config with an mcpServers object.

Can Claude Desktop use multiple MCP servers?

Yes. Add multiple named entries under mcpServers.