Claude Desktop MCP setup
MCP hostClaude Desktop runs local MCP servers that you list in claude_desktop_config.json or install as .mcpb extensions. Servers built with MCP Apps can also show interactive UI, such as maps, charts and editors, inside the conversation. This page covers where the config file is, a config you can paste, and the usual reasons a server does not show up.
Source and setup verified on 2026-11-03
CommunicationQuick facts
- Type
- MCP host (desktop client)
- Config file
- claude_desktop_config.json
- One-click installs
- .mcpb extensions (Settings → Extensions)
- MCP Apps (inline UI)
- Supported, after you click Allow
- Platforms
- macOS, Windows
>See it running
In Claude Desktop go to Settings → Developer and click Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json and creates it if it does not exist.
Paste the example below. It runs the official Map MCP App with npx, so Node.js must be installed.
Closing the window is not enough. Quit the app fully so it reloads the config.
For the Map example, ask for a 3D globe of a city. Claude asks before showing the app; click Allow or Always allow.
{
"mcpServers": {
"map": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-map", "--stdio"]
}
}
}npx fetches the latest version on every start. Pin a version, for example @modelcontextprotocol/server-map@2.0.1, if you keep the entry.
Always confirm the latest setup instructions with the maintainer before installing.
>MCP Apps to try first
Interactive 3D globe viewer using CesiumJS for geospatial visualization
Real-time GLSL shader renderer for creative visual effects
ABC notation to sheet music converter and viewer
Scatter chart with clustering for customer segmentation analysis
>Questions
Where is claude_desktop_config.json?
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Settings → Developer → Edit Config opens the right file on either system.
Does Claude Desktop support MCP Apps?
Yes. When a connected server returns a UI resource, Claude asks for permission and then renders the app inline in the chat. Anthropic's own getting-started guide uses the official Map, ShaderToy, Sheet Music and Customer Segmentation examples as test servers.
What is a .mcpb file?
An MCP Bundle (earlier called .dxt): a packaged server you install by dragging it onto Settings → Extensions, with a form for API keys instead of editing JSON. Inkscape MCP and Slack MCP both publish one.
My server does not show up. What should I check?
Check that the JSON is valid (a trailing comma breaks the whole file), that you fully quit and reopened the app, and that the command is reachable. Apps opened from the Dock or Start menu may not see your shell PATH, so an absolute path to npx, node or uv often fixes it. Logs are in ~/Library/Logs/Claude/ on macOS and %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\ on Windows.
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