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MCP client - Amazon Web Services - verified

How to add an MCP server to Kiro

Where to add MCP servers in Kiro: .kiro/settings/mcp.json (workspace) or ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json (user); agent configs can also define mcpServers. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE. It handles OAuth sign-in for remote servers.

Formerly Amazon Q Developer CLI: AWS docs state it has been rebranded to Kiro. Source

Kiro homepage - Amazon Q Developer CLI in our tools directory - Compare all MCP clients

Kind
Editor
stdio
Yes
Streamable HTTP
Yes
SSE
Yes

Add a server

Where the config lives
.kiro/settings/mcp.json (workspace) or ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json (user); agent configs can also define mcpServers

The example from the Kiro docs, copied verbatim. Swap in your server's name, command or URL.

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "api-server": {
      "url": "https://api.example.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${API_TOKEN}",
        "X-Custom-Header": "value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Source: kiro.dev/docs/mcp/configuration

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 Kiro supports.

MCP support

What the Kiro docs say it supports. Not stated means the docs do not say either way.

Kiro MCP features, transports and OAuth, each with its source
FeatureValueSource
ToolsCalls the functions a server exposes.Yeskiro.dev/docs/mcp
ResourcesReads data and files a server exposes as resources.Yeskiro.dev/docs/mcp
PromptsOffers a server's prompt templates to the user.Yeskiro.dev/docs/mcp
SamplingLets a server ask the client's model for a completion.Not statedDocs do not say
RootsTells a server which directories it may work in.Not statedDocs do not say
ElicitationLets a server ask the user for input mid-task.Yeskiro.dev/docs/mcp
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.Yeskiro.dev/docs/mcp
Streamable HTTPConnects to a remote server over the current HTTP transport.Yeskiro.dev/changelog/ide/0-5
SSEConnects over the older HTTP+SSE transport.Yeskiro.dev/docs/mcp
OAuthSigns in to remote servers with OAuth.Yeskiro.dev/docs/mcp/configuration

Worth knowing

AWS docs state the Amazon Q Developer CLI has been rebranded to Kiro, and Kiro's MCP support covers its IDE, CLI and web surfaces.

Other editors

FAQ

Where is the Kiro MCP config?

.kiro/settings/mcp.json (workspace) or ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json (user); agent configs can also define mcpServers. The example on this page is copied from https://kiro.dev/docs/mcp/configuration/

Does Kiro support remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP?

Yes, per https://kiro.dev/changelog/ide/0-5/. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE.

Does Kiro support OAuth for MCP servers?

Yes. It handles OAuth sign-in for remote servers. Source: https://kiro.dev/docs/mcp/configuration/

Which MCP features does Kiro support?

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

Sources

Last verified from the pages below.

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