| name | mcp-add |
| description | Add MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers to AI coding clients using npx. Use when the user wants to configure, add, or set up an MCP server for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Continue, Goose, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, or Copilot CLI. |
mcp-add
Add MCP servers to AI coding clients without installation.
Command
npx mcp-add [flags]
Run without flags for interactive mode, or provide all required flags for non-interactive mode.
Flags
| Flag | Description |
|---|
--name, -n | Server name (identifier in config) |
--type, -t | Server type: stdio, http, or sse |
--command, -c | Command to run (stdio only), e.g., "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem" |
--url, -u | Server URL (http/sse only) |
--args, -a | Arguments for stdio command (can repeat) |
--env, -e | Environment variables as KEY=value (can repeat) |
--headers, -H | HTTP headers as Key: value (can repeat, http/sse only) |
--scope, -s | Config scope: global or project |
--clients | Target clients (comma-separated or repeated) |
Supported Clients
claude desktop claude code copilot cli cursor continue windsurf opencode vscode goose codex gemini
Note: Client names with spaces must be quoted: --clients "claude code"
Examples
Stdio server (filesystem access):
npx mcp-add --name filesystem --type stdio \
--command "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/dir" \
--scope global --clients "claude code"
Stdio server with separate args:
npx mcp-add --name sqlite --type stdio \
--command "npx -y @anthropic/mcp-server-sqlite" \
--args "--db" --args "/path/to/db.sqlite" \
--scope project --clients cursor,vscode
Remote SSE server:
npx mcp-add --name my-server --type sse \
--url "http://localhost:3000/sse" \
--scope global --clients "claude code"
With environment variables:
npx mcp-add --name github --type stdio \
--command "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github" \
--env "GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxx" \
--scope global --clients "claude code"
Interactive mode (prompts for all options):
npx mcp-add
Notes
- Project scope creates config in
.cursor/, .vscode/, etc. in current directory
- Global scope uses platform-specific config locations
- Claude Desktop only supports global scope
- Command strings are split by whitespace; first part becomes command, rest becomes args
