Where is the Claude Desktop MCP config file?

On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. On Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Open it through Claude Desktop at Settings → Developer → Edit Config.

Why does my MCP server not appear after adding it to Claude Desktop?

Claude Desktop reads the config file only at startup. Fully quit the app (Cmd + Q on macOS, tray icon → Quit on Windows) and reopen it. Also confirm your JSON is valid — a syntax error prevents all servers from loading.

Can I add more than one MCP server to Claude Desktop?

Yes. Add each server as a separate key under mcpServers. All listed servers start when Claude Desktop launches and their tools appear together in the hammer icon menu.

Does Claude Desktop support project-scoped MCP config like Cursor?

No. Claude Desktop reads from one global config file per machine. For project-specific server sets, use Cursor (.cursor/mcp.json) or VS Code (.vscode/mcp.json), both of which support per-project configs committed to the repo.

How to Add an MCP Server in Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop reads MCP servers from claude_desktop_config.json — ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS, %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows. Add the server under a top-level mcpServers key, save the file, and restart Claude Desktop. Its tools appear under the hammer icon in any new conversation.

Claude Desktop reads MCP servers from a single JSON config file. Here is the exact path, a working example, and how to confirm the server is connected.