How to Connect MCP to Claude Desktop (Step-by-Step)

MCP (Model Context Protocol) connects Claude to your files, apps, and tools — giving it access to information beyond what’s in the chat window. This step-by-step guide walks you through setting up MCP in Claude Desktop in under 10 minutes, no coding required. You’ll connect Claude to Google Drive, Notion, Slack, and more using pre-built MCP servers that install with a single command.

What You Need Before You Start

Before we install anything, let’s make sure you have the basics:

• Claude Desktop installed on your Mac or Windows PC (free download from anthropic.com)
• A Claude subscription (the free tier works, but Pro is recommended for heavy use)
• Node.js installed (we’ll cover this below — it’s required by most MCP servers)
• Basic comfort with copying and pasting text into a file

Not sure what Claude Desktop is, or whether you should be using it instead of claude.ai or Claude Code? Start with Claude’s Interfaces Explained — a five-minute orientation across all three Claude surfaces. Or jump straight to our Claude Desktop overview.

Step 1: Install Node.js

Most MCP servers are built with JavaScript, which means they need Node.js to run. Think of Node.js as the “engine” that powers these small programs in the background. Here’s how to install it:

1. Go to nodejs.org
2. Click the big green button that says “LTS” (this is the stable version)
3. Download and run the installer
4. Follow the prompts — click Next, agree to the terms, and Install
5. When it’s done, open Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows) and type: node --version
6. You should see a version number like v20.11.0 — that means it worked!

Step 2: Find Your Claude Desktop Config File

Claude Desktop uses a configuration file to know which MCP servers to load. This file is a simple text file in a standard format called JSON. Here’s where to find it:

• Mac: Open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, and type: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/
• Windows: Open File Explorer, click the address bar, and type: %APPDATA%\Claude\

Inside that folder, look for a file called claude_desktop_config.json. If it doesn’t exist yet, create it (just a new text file with that exact name).

Step 3: Understanding the Config File Format

Open the config file with a text editor (TextEdit on Mac, Notepad on Windows, or VS Code if you have it). The file follows this basic structure:

{"mcpServers": {"server-name": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@package/name"]}}}

Let’s break this down plainly:

• mcpServers — the container that holds all your MCP server configurations
• server-name — a nickname you choose for this server (like “notion” or “slack”)
• command — how to run the server (usually npx, which is Node’s package runner)
• args — the specific server package to download and run

Step 4: Install Your First MCP Server — Filesystem

Let’s start with the simplest possible MCP server: one that lets Claude read files on your computer. This is great for testing because it doesn’t require any third-party accounts.

Add this to your config file (replace the path with a real folder you want Claude to access):

{"mcpServers": {"filesystem": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/yourname/Documents"]}}}

Save the file, then quit Claude Desktop completely and reopen it. You should see a small hammer icon in Claude’s interface — that means MCP servers are loaded!

Step 5: Test It

With the filesystem server running, try asking Claude: “What files do I have in my Documents folder?” Claude should list the files it can see. If it does, congratulations — MCP is working.

Step 6: Add More Servers

Now you can layer in more servers. Here are the most popular ones and their config snippets. Add each one inside your mcpServers block, separated by commas.

Notion MCP Server

You’ll need a Notion API key first. Go to notion.so/my-integrations, create a new integration, and copy the token.

"notion": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@notionhq/notion-mcp-server"], "env": {"NOTION_API_KEY": "your_token_here"}}

Brave Search MCP Server

Get a free API key at api.search.brave.com.

"brave-search": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"], "env": {"BRAVE_API_KEY": "your_key_here"}}

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Things don’t always work first try. Here are the most common issues:

• Hammer icon not showing: You probably have a typo in your JSON. JSON is very picky about commas and brackets. Try pasting your config into jsonlint.com to check for errors.
• Server loads but Claude can’t use it: Make sure Node.js is installed and in your system PATH. Try running npx --version in Terminal.
• Authentication errors: Double-check your API keys. Watch for extra spaces or missing characters when you pasted the key.
• Claude doesn’t see new servers after config changes: You must fully quit and restart Claude Desktop, not just close the window.

A Full Config Example

Here’s what a complete config file with multiple servers looks like:

{"mcpServers": {"filesystem": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/yourname/Documents"]}, "notion": {"command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@notionhq/notion-mcp-server"], "env": {"NOTION_API_KEY": "ntn_abc123"}}}}

What’s Next?

Now that MCP is set up, explore what you can do with specific tools. Check out MCP for Notion, MCP for Slack, and our roundup of the best MCP servers to install. If you’re curious how MCP compares to the traditional way of building AI integrations, see Claude Code for Beginners.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Does MCP work on iPhone or Android?

Currently, MCP is only available in Claude Desktop (Mac and Windows). Mobile versions of Claude don’t support MCP yet, though this is expected to change in 2026.

Will installing MCP servers slow down Claude?

MCP servers are lightweight background processes. They use very little memory and shouldn’t noticeably affect Claude’s performance. Each server only activates when Claude actually needs to use it.

Can I have too many MCP servers installed?

Technically you can install as many as you want, but having many active servers can occasionally slow down Claude’s startup time. A good practice is to only install servers for tools you actually use regularly.

Is my data safe when I use MCP servers?

MCP servers run locally on your machine and communicate directly with the tools you authorize. Your data doesn’t go through Anthropic’s servers — it goes from your computer to the tool directly. Always review what permissions an MCP server requests before installing.

What if the MCP server I want doesn’t exist yet?

You can build your own! It’s more approachable than you’d think. See our guide on Building Your First MCP Server.

---

---

Related guides: Claude’s Interfaces Explained | What Is MCP? | Claude Desktop App | All Claude MCP Servers | Best AI Tools for Beginners

Last updated: May 2026.

You May Also Like

• How to Use Claude AI
• Best Claude Prompts
• Claude AI Login
• ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini
• Claude Code Beginners Guide