What is the context_servers key in Zed settings?

It is the key Zed uses for what other editors call MCP servers. Zed adopted the term "context servers" before the MCP name was finalized; the underlying protocol is the same and any standard MCP server works with the context_servers key.

Does Zed support a project-specific MCP config?

No. Zed reads from one global settings.json file. There is no per-project equivalent of Cursor's .cursor/mcp.json. To match a per-project setup, add all servers globally and enable only the ones you need for a given project.

Why doesn't my context server show up after adding it to settings.json?

Close and reopen the AI panel, or fully restart Zed. The panel loads context server connections on open. Also confirm the JSON in settings.json is valid — a syntax error silently prevents all servers from loading.

Can I run multiple MCP servers in Zed at once?

Yes. Add each server as a separate named key inside context_servers. Zed starts each one as an independent process and exposes all their tools in the AI panel.

How to Add an MCP Server in Zed

Zed reads MCP servers from its settings.json file — ~/Library/Application Support/Zed/settings.json on macOS, ~/.config/zed/settings.json on Linux, %APPDATA%\Zed\settings.json on Windows. Add the server under a context_servers key, save, and reload the AI panel. Zed calls them "context servers" internally but the protocol is fully MCP-compatible.

Zed supports MCP through a context_servers key in its global settings.json file. Here is the exact path, a working example, and how to confirm the server is connected in the AI panel.