How to Install and Configure Your First MCP Server

Before You Begin

Make sure you have these prerequisites ready:

• Node.js 18+ — Check with node --version. Download here
• An MCP host — We'll use Claude Desktop in this guide
• A text editor — For editing the configuration JSON file

Step 1: Locate Your Config File

Every MCP host has a configuration file where you define which servers to connect to. For Claude Desktop:

macOS

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows

%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Linux

~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

If the file doesn't exist, create it with this minimal content:

{
  "mcpServers": {}
}

Step 2: Add Your First Server

We'll install the filesystem server — it's the most universally useful MCP server and requires no API keys.

Edit your config file to add:

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

Let's break down each field:

• "filesystem" — A name you choose for this server (can be anything)
• "command" — The executable to run (npx for Node.js servers, python or uvx for Python)
• "args" — Command-line arguments. -y auto-confirms the npx install, followed by the package name and any server-specific arguments

Step 3: Restart Your MCP Host

After saving the config, completely restart Claude Desktop (quit and reopen — not just close the window). The MCP host reads the config at startup.

Step 4: Verify the Connection

Open a new conversation in Claude Desktop. Look for the 🔨 hammer icon near the text input — this indicates MCP tools are available.

Click the hammer to see a list of available tools. You should see filesystem tools like:

• read_file — Read contents of a file
• write_file — Create or overwrite a file
• list_directory — List files in a directory
• search_files — Search for files by name or content

Step 5: Test It

Try these prompts:

"What files are in my Documents folder?"

"Read the contents of README.md"

"Create a file called test.txt with 'Hello from MCP!'"

Claude will ask for permission before using each tool — approve it and watch the magic happen.

Adding More Servers

Simply add more entries to the mcpServers object:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/you/Documents"]
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "ghp_your_token_here"
      }
    },
    "memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory"]
    }
  }
}

Servers with Environment Variables

Some servers need API keys or tokens. Use the "env" field:

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

Python Servers

Python-based MCP servers use uvx or python:

"python-server": {
  "command": "uvx",
  "args": ["mcp-server-example"]
}

Configuration Tips

• Use absolute paths — Relative paths can cause errors since the server's working directory may not be what you expect
• Valid JSON only — No trailing commas! Use a JSON validator if you get errors
• One server per entry — Each server gets its own configuration block
• Start small — Add 1-2 servers, verify they work, then add more

Verifying Server Status

If something seems wrong, you can check server logs:

macOS/Linux

# Claude Desktop logs
tail -f ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log

Windows

# Check Claude Desktop logs in
%APPDATA%\Claude\logs\

Common issues? Check our troubleshooting guide.

What's Next?

• Browse the MCP Hub directory for more servers to install
• Check out our Top 10 Essential Servers
• Learn about security best practices
• Ready to build your own? Read Building Custom MCP Servers

FAQ

Do I need to install Node.js for MCP servers?

Most MCP servers are built with TypeScript/Node.js, so yes — Node.js 18+ is required. Some servers are built with Python instead. Check the server's requirements.

How do I update an MCP server?

If using npx, servers are automatically fetched on each launch. For globally installed servers, run npm update -g package-name. For Python servers, use pip install --upgrade.

Can I install MCP servers on Windows?

Yes! MCP servers work on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The configuration paths differ by OS, but the setup process is the same.