Why does my MCP server show zero tools in Claude Desktop?

The server process usually started but crashed before responding to the tools/list request — commonly a missing environment variable, a bad command path, or non-JSON output on stdout. Open the per-server log at ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log to see the actual error.

Do I need to restart Claude Desktop after editing the config?

Yes. Claude Desktop only launches MCP servers at startup, so you must fully quit and reopen the app — closing the window is not enough.

Why does my MCP server show zero tools in Claude Desktop?

The server process usually started but crashed before responding to the tools/list request — commonly a missing environment variable, a bad command path, or non-JSON output on stdout. Open the per-server log at ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log to see the actual error.

Do I need to restart Claude Desktop after editing the config?

Yes. Claude Desktop only launches MCP servers at startup, so you must fully quit and reopen the app — closing the window is not enough.

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How to Install MCP Servers in Claude Desktop

How to install and configure MCP servers in Claude Desktop on macOS and Windows — the config file location, the exact JSON shape, and how to verify your tools loaded.

Configuring Claude Desktop

Config file: claude_desktop_config.json

macOS path~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed/dir"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Step-by-step Installation Guide

1
Open the config file
In Claude Desktop, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens (or creates) claude_desktop_config.json in your text editor. You can also open the file directly at the path for your OS.
2
Add the server under mcpServers
Add an entry inside the "mcpServers" object with a name, a "command", and its "args". Put any secrets in the "env" object rather than inline in the args.
3
Save and fully restart Claude Desktop
Quit Claude Desktop completely (not just the window) and reopen it. MCP servers are only launched on startup, so config edits are ignored until a full restart.
4
Verify the tools loaded
Open a new chat and look for the tools/MCP indicator. If the server shows zero tools or an error, check the MCP log at ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\logs (Windows).

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Frequently Asked Questions

On macOS it is ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json; on Windows it is %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. The fastest way to open it is Settings → Developer → Edit Config, which creates the file if it does not exist.

Install MCP servers in other clients

Step-by-step Installation Guide

Open the config file

In Claude Desktop, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens (or creates) claude_desktop_config.json in your text editor. You can also open the file directly at the path for your OS.

Add the server under mcpServers

Add an entry inside the "mcpServers" object with a name, a "command", and its "args". Put any secrets in the "env" object rather than inline in the args.

Save and fully restart Claude Desktop

Quit Claude Desktop completely (not just the window) and reopen it. MCP servers are only launched on startup, so config edits are ignored until a full restart.

Verify the tools loaded

Open a new chat and look for the tools/MCP indicator. If the server shows zero tools or an error, check the MCP log at ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\logs (Windows).

Frequently Asked Questions