Add an MCP server to Claude

Claude has two clients. Claude Code is the terminal agent. Claude Desktop is the app. They do not share config. Pick the one you actually use, then take the matching snippet from the listing.

Claude Code

Remote servers use Streamable HTTP. From any directory listing, copy the Claude Code line and run it in a terminal:

claude mcp add --transport http context7 https://mcp.context7.com/mcp

Local servers drop --transport http and pass the command after --:

claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path

Then start a session and ask Claude to list tools. The server name from the listing should appear.

Claude Desktop

Desktop cannot speak Streamable HTTP on its own. The listing snippet wraps a remote URL in npx mcp-remote. Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config, and merge the block into claude_desktop_config.json.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.context7.com/mcp"]
    }
  }
}

A local listing skips mcp-remote and uses the package command directly (npx, uvx, or docker). Restart Claude Desktop after you save.

If it does not connect

• claude: command not found: install Claude Code, then retry the add command.
• Desktop shows the server as failed: confirm Node is on your PATH so npx mcp-remote can start.
• The server asks you to sign in: complete that in the client. PlugMCP is not in the middle of that flow.