How to add an MCP server to Claude Desktop

For a local server, open Settings, Developer, Edit Config in Claude Desktop, paste the server into the mcpServers block of claude_desktop_config.json and restart the app. For a remote server with a URL, add it as a custom connector under Settings, Connectors instead.

Local servers: edit the config file

In Claude Desktop open Settings, then Developer, then Edit Config.
Add the server inside mcpServers:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "package-name"],
      "env": { "API_KEY": "your-key" }
    }
  }
}

Quit Claude Desktop fully (not just the window) and open it again.
Start a new chat. The server's tools appear in the tools menu.

The file lives at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS and %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows.

Remote servers: add a connector

Servers with a URL are added in the app under Settings, Connectors, Add custom connector. Paste the URL and sign in if asked. Connectors you add there also work in Claude on the web.

If it does not show up

One typo in the JSON makes Claude Desktop skip the whole file. See MCP server not showing up in Claude Desktop.

Questions

Do I need Node.js for Claude Desktop MCP servers?

Only for servers that start with npx. Python servers that start with uvx need uv instead, and remote servers added as connectors need nothing installed.

Can I add several servers?

Yes. Put each one as its own entry inside the same mcpServers block, separated by commas.