How to add a server in the Claude apps and Claude Desktop

By mcp-guide · 0 stars

Remote connectors and Claude Desktop local servers are separate lists.

### Remote connector (claude.ai, desktop, mobile)

Prerequisites: a publicly reachable server URL. Free plans get one custom connector.

1. Open Customize > Connectors.
2. Click "+".
3. Enter a name and the server URL.
4. Click Connect.
5. Sign in on the provider's page.

You should see the connector in the chat's "+" menu, where you can switch it and its individual tools on or off.

Team and Enterprise: the owner adds it under Organization Settings > Connectors (Add > Custom > Web). Each member then connects it for themselves.

### Local server as a desktop extension (.mcpb)

1. Open Settings > Extensions.
2. Browse for the extension, or drag the `.mcpb` file in.
3. Enter API keys in the form it shows.

Admins can limit installs with an extension allowlist.

### Local server by config file

1. Open Settings > Developer > Edit Config.
2. Add the server under `mcpServers`, with absolute paths.
3. Save the file.
4. Quit Claude Desktop fully and reopen it.

~~~json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/me/Desktop"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}
~~~

You should see the server's tools in the chat's "+" menu. If not, read its log.

| | macOS | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Config | `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` | `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` |
| Logs | `~/Library/Logs/Claude/` | `%APPDATA%\Claude\logs` |

Logs: `mcp.log` plus one `mcp-server-NAME.log` per server.

### Sources

- https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166-get-started-with-custom-connectors-using-remote-mcp
- https://support.claude.com/en/collections/17879657-desktop-extensions
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/develop/connect-local-servers