How to install MCP servers in Cursor

Who is this for?

Cursor users who want to connect AI coding workflows to files, GitHub, databases, browser tools, or docs.

~/.cursor/mcp.json

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

Start from a trusted listing or a starter stack. Review Trust Score, Risk Level, and install command before copying anything.

Open Cursor settings and find the MCP section, or edit the MCP config file directly.

~/.cursor/mcp.json

Add your server under the mcpServers object. Multiple servers can live in the same JSON file.

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

Restart Cursor or reload MCP servers so the new tool list is detected.

Open Cursor chat and check whether the MCP tools appear. If not, review command path and config JSON syntax.

Command not found

Install Node.js or the runtime required by the MCP command, then retry from a normal terminal.

Invalid JSON

Check commas and quotes. Use the config generator if you are unsure.

Server not showing

Restart Cursor after saving the config and confirm the config file path is correct.

Where is Cursor MCP config stored?

Most setups use ~/.cursor/mcp.json, but Cursor settings can also open the config directly.

Can Cursor use multiple MCP servers?

Yes. Add multiple entries under the same mcpServers object.