MCP for Claude: which servers to add, and how
Short answer: in the Claude desktop app, add one MCP server for the job in front of you — Filesystem to work with chosen folders, Memory to keep context between chats, Fetch to read web pages. Coding in a terminal? That is Claude Code, which has its own guide.
Start with the server that matches your task
- Read and edit files in folders you chooseFilesystem
- Remember people, projects and decisions across chatsMemory
- Pull a web page into the chat as MarkdownFetch
How to add one: Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config, paste the server entry from its Install tab, save, then fully restart Claude.
Claude app or Claude Code?
This page is for the Claude desktop app, where local MCP servers are listed in claude_desktop_config.json. Claude Code, the terminal coding tool, adds servers with claude mcp add or a project .mcp.json file instead; see the separate Claude Code MCP guide. The servers can be the same, the setup is not.
Choose what Claude may reach
Filesystem gives Claude the folders you list, and it can write inside them, not just read. Memory saves a knowledge graph to a local file you can open and delete. Fetch can request any URL it is given, including addresses on your local network. Pick the narrowest one that does the job.
Add it in Claude Desktop
Open Settings → Developer → Edit Config to reach claude_desktop_config.json, add the server under mcpServers, save and fully quit and reopen Claude. Filesystem and Memory start with npx, so Node.js must be installed; Fetch documents uvx or pip. Each entry’s Install tab has the snippet from its pinned README.
Check the first run
After restarting, ask Claude to list its available tools and confirm the new server appears. Start with a harmless request — list an allowed folder, store one test fact, fetch a public page — and approve each tool call yourself. If nothing appears, check the JSON syntax and the path to Node.js or uvx first.
Related MCP servers and guides
Open a detail page for its pinned source and Install tab, or browse the full directory.
- Filesystem MCP: Allowed directories, read and write tools, and the Claude Desktop snippet.
- Memory MCP: Local knowledge-graph storage for context you want Claude to keep.
- Fetch MCP: Turns a web page into Markdown for the conversation.
- Git MCP: Repository history and diffs, when your files live in a Git repo.
- MCP servers for Claude Code: The terminal coding tool uses claude mcp add instead of the desktop config.
- All MCP servers: Every listed MCP server with its source and setup notes.
- Claude skills: Skills give Claude written instructions; they are not MCP servers.
- Directory home: Search skills, plugins, MCP servers and agents in one place.
Source-linked candidates
FAQ
What is MCP in Claude?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets Claude call tools run by a separate server, such as reading a folder or fetching a web page. Claude Desktop asks for your approval before a tool runs, and a server can only do what its own code allows.
How do I add an MCP server to Claude Desktop?
Open Settings → Developer → Edit Config, add the server under mcpServers in claude_desktop_config.json, save and fully restart Claude. On macOS the file is in ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/, on Windows in %APPDATA%\Claude\.
Which MCP server should I add to Claude first?
The one for your current task: Filesystem for local files, Memory for context between chats, Fetch for web pages. Add one at a time, so you can see which tools it brings and what it can reach.
Can I use MCP servers on claude.ai in the browser?
Not local ones: the web app cannot start a server on your computer. Remote MCP servers are added as custom connectors where your Claude plan allows it. The servers on this page run locally, so use the desktop app.
Is the MCP setup the same for Claude Code?
No. Claude Code uses claude mcp add or a project .mcp.json file, not claude_desktop_config.json. The same servers often work in both, but configure each host separately and see the Claude Code MCP guide.
Are these MCP servers safe to connect to Claude?
Listed does not mean audited. They are reference servers pinned to a public commit and have not been integration-tested by AgentSkillsDir. Read the source, limit folders, and approve tool calls one by one.
Reference: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/develop/connect-local-servers
These selections are organized by task, without invented ratings, search volumes or compatibility-test results.