How to Install MCP Servers in Zed
How 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.
Step-by-step installation guide
Open your Zed settings
Run "zed: open settings" from the command palette, or open the Agent Panel settings and choose to add a custom server. Zed calls MCP servers "context servers".
Add the server under context_servers
Add a named entry inside "context_servers" with a "command", its "args", and an optional "env" object for secrets. Zed uses context_servers — not mcpServers — so rename the key if you paste a Claude or Cursor config.
Check the status in the Agent Panel
Zed starts the server when the settings file is saved. Open the Agent Panel settings: a green indicator next to the server means it is running and its tools are available to the agent.
Configuration
settings.jsonLocation
~/.config/zed/settings.jsonSnippet
{
"context_servers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed/dir"],
"env": {}
}
}
}Popular MCP servers to try in Zed
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Frequently Asked Questions
Add an entry under "context_servers" in your Zed settings.json with a "command", "args", and optional "env". Zed starts the server on save and lists it in the Agent Panel settings with a status indicator.
Zed names MCP servers "context servers" in its settings schema. The command, args, and env fields are the same as other clients, so you only need to rename the top-level key when copying a config.
Yes. Some MCP servers are packaged as Zed extensions that you install from the extensions view instead of editing settings.json. Custom servers from any package manager still go in context_servers.