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MCP client - Anthropic - verified

How to add an MCP server to Claude Desktop / claude.ai

Where to add MCP servers in Claude Desktop / claude.ai: Local servers: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), opened via Settings > Developer > Edit Config; remote servers are added as custom connectors by URL. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE. It handles OAuth sign-in for remote servers.

Claude Desktop / claude.ai homepage - Compare all MCP clients

Kind
Desktop app
stdio
Yes
Streamable HTTP
Yes
SSE
Yes

Add a server

Where the config lives
Local servers: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), opened via Settings > Developer > Edit Config; remote servers are added as custom connectors by URL

The example from the Claude Desktop / claude.ai docs, copied verbatim. Swap in your server's name, command or URL.

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/username/Desktop",
        "/Users/username/Downloads"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Source: modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/2026-07-28/develop/connect-local-servers

Which server?

Pick a server from the verified directory of official MCP servers. Each one lists its transport, auth and the setup snippets its vendor publishes, so you can match it to what Claude Desktop / claude.ai supports.

MCP support

What the Claude Desktop / claude.ai docs say it supports. Not stated means the docs do not say either way.

Claude Desktop / claude.ai MCP features, transports and OAuth, each with its source
FeatureValueSource
ToolsCalls the functions a server exposes.Yesclaude.com/docs/connectors/building
ResourcesReads data and files a server exposes as resources.Yesclaude.com/docs/connectors/building
PromptsOffers a server's prompt templates to the user.Yesclaude.com/docs/connectors/building
SamplingLets a server ask the client's model for a completion.Noclaude.com/docs/connectors/building
RootsTells a server which directories it may work in.Not statedDocs do not say
ElicitationLets a server ask the user for input mid-task.Not statedDocs do not say
DiscoveryPicks up tools, prompts or resources a server adds or removes while connected.Not statedDocs do not say
InstructionsUses the instructions a server sends when it connects.Not statedDocs do not say
stdioStarts a local server as a subprocess.Yesmodelcontextprotocol.io/docs/2026-07-28/develop/connect-local-servers
Streamable HTTPConnects to a remote server over the current HTTP transport.Yesclaude.com/docs/connectors/building
SSEConnects over the older HTTP+SSE transport.Yesclaude.com/docs/connectors/building
OAuthSigns in to remote servers with OAuth.Yesclaude.com/docs/connectors/building

Worth knowing

Anthropic documents that Claude implements a subset of the MCP spec and does not yet support resource subscriptions, sampling, or advanced or draft capabilities.

Other desktop apps

FAQ

Where is the Claude Desktop / claude.ai MCP config?

Local servers: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), opened via Settings > Developer > Edit Config; remote servers are added as custom connectors by URL. The example on this page is copied from https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/2026-07-28/develop/connect-local-servers

Does Claude Desktop / claude.ai support remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP?

Yes, per https://claude.com/docs/connectors/building. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE.

Does Claude Desktop / claude.ai support OAuth for MCP servers?

Yes. It handles OAuth sign-in for remote servers. Source: https://claude.com/docs/connectors/building

Which MCP features does Claude Desktop / claude.ai support?

Its docs list Tools, Resources and Prompts. They say Sampling is not supported. They do not state Roots, Elicitation, Discovery and Instructions.

Sources

Last verified from the pages below.

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