How to Set Up MCP in Claude Desktop (Complete 2026 Guide)

Claude Desktop supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing you to extend Claude's capabilities with external tools and data sources. This guide shows you exactly how to set up MCP servers in Claude Desktop, step by step.

Prerequisites

Step 1: Find the Config File Location

Claude Desktop stores MCP configuration in a JSON file. The location depends on your operating system:

Step 2: Understand the Config Structure

The config file uses this JSON structure:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "server-name": {
      "command": "executable",
      "args": ["arg1", "arg2"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Add Your First MCP Server

Let's start with a simple example - the filesystem MCP server that lets Claude read and write files:

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

Popular MCP Server Configurations

Copy and paste these ready-to-use configurations for popular MCP servers:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "ghp_your_token_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "supabase": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@supabase/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "SUPABASE_URL": "https://your-project.supabase.co",
        "SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY": "your-service-role-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@playwright/mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

Step 4: Configure Multiple Servers

You can run multiple MCP servers simultaneously:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/folder"]
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": { "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "ghp_xxx" }
    },
    "supabase": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@supabase/mcp-server"],
      "env": { "SUPABASE_URL": "https://xxx.supabase.co", "SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY": "xxx" }
    }
  }
}

Step 5: Restart Claude Desktop

After saving your config changes:

1. Completely quit Claude Desktop (not just close the window)
2. On macOS: Right-click the dock icon → Quit
3. On Windows: Right-click the system tray icon → Exit
4. Reopen Claude Desktop

Step 6: Verify Your MCP Servers

To check if your MCP servers are connected:

1. Open Claude Desktop
2. Look for the hammer icon (🔨) in the input area
3. Click it to see available tools
4. Your MCP server tools should be listed

Troubleshooting Common Issues

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "/usr/local/bin/npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": { "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "ghp_xxx" }
    }
  }
}

Security Best Practices

• Limit file access: Only give filesystem servers access to specific directories
• Use minimal permissions: Create API tokens with only the scopes you need
• Review server code: Before running any MCP server, review its source code
• Don't share your config: Your config contains sensitive API keys

Test Your MCP Servers Online

Before adding an MCP server to Claude Desktop, test it using MCP Playground. This browser-based tool lets you connect to remote MCP servers and test tool calls.