Install MCP Servers in Any Client
Select your preferred AI client below for step-by-step setup guides, OS config file paths, interactive JSON generators, and troubleshooting tips.
- Desktop App
Claude Desktop
claude_desktop_config.jsonHow to install and configure MCP servers in Claude Desktop on macOS and Windows — the config file location, the exact JSON shape, and how to verify your tools loaded.
View setup guide - AI Editor
Cursor
mcp.jsonHow to install MCP servers in Cursor — the global and per-project mcp.json files, adding a server from Settings, and enabling tools in the Agent.
View setup guide - VS Code Extension
Cline / VS Code
cline_mcp_settings.jsonHow to configure MCP servers for Cline (formerly Claude Dev) in VS Code — settings file location, standard JSON structure, and enabling tool permissions.
View setup guide - AI Editor
Windsurf
mcp_config.jsonHow to configure MCP servers in Windsurf (Codeium) — the mcp_config.json location, the JSON shape, and how to load the servers into Cascade.
View setup guide - Terminal CLI
Claude Code
.mcp.json / ~/.claude.jsonHow to add MCP servers to Claude Code from the terminal — the claude mcp add command, project vs user scope, and how to confirm the server connected.
View setup guide - IDE Extension
VS Code (GitHub Copilot)
.vscode/mcp.jsonHow to add MCP servers to VS Code for GitHub Copilot agent mode — the .vscode/mcp.json file, the servers key, and enabling tools in Copilot Chat.
View setup guide - Code Editor
Zed
settings.jsonHow to add MCP servers to the Zed editor — the context_servers block in settings.json, where the file lives, and how to check the server is running in the Agent Panel.
View setup guide - Terminal CLI
OpenAI Codex CLI
config.tomlHow to add MCP servers to the OpenAI Codex CLI — the [mcp_servers] tables in ~/.codex/config.toml, the codex mcp add command, and how to confirm tools loaded.
View setup guide - Terminal CLI
Gemini CLI
settings.jsonHow to add MCP servers to Google Gemini CLI — the mcpServers block in ~/.gemini/settings.json, project-level config, and how to list connected servers.
View setup guide - IDE Plugin
JetBrains AI Assistant
Settings → Tools → AI Assistant → MCPHow to add MCP servers to JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm) through AI Assistant — the MCP settings page, JSON import, and verifying tools.
View setup guide - IDE Extension
Roo Code
mcp_settings.json / .roo/mcp.jsonHow to add MCP servers to Roo Code in VS Code — the global mcp_settings.json, project-level .roo/mcp.json, and managing servers from the MCP panel.
View setup guide - IDE Extension
Continue
.continue/mcpServers/How to add MCP servers to Continue in VS Code and JetBrains — the .continue/mcpServers folder, YAML or JSON configs, and using tools in agent mode.
View setup guide - Desktop App
LM Studio
mcp.jsonHow to add MCP servers to LM Studio so local models can call tools — the mcp.json file, the Cursor-compatible format, and approving tool calls.
View setup guide