Sheets MCP

What Sheets MCP does

Sheets MCP MCP server gives Claude Desktop and Claude Code access to Google Sheets through a locally running MCP server. It supports spreadsheet tasks that range from reading a sheet and creating a new workbook to changing formulas, formatting ranges, building charts, and creating pivot tables.

The server is intended for workflows that extend beyond a single open spreadsheet. Claude can bring information from APIs and files into a sheet, combine content from multiple sheets, and keep a sheet updated on a schedule. It can also work with more than one Google account, which is useful when source and destination spreadsheets belong to different accounts.

Writes include undo support and formula-error checks. In Claude Desktop, a live preview can show the ranges Claude reads and changes, including charts, while the task is running.

How it works

The Sheets MCP MCP server runs on your computer and sends requests directly to Google. It does not use an intermediary Sheets MCP-hosted server. Google authentication data is stored locally under ~/.sheets-mcp, and the requested Google permission is limited to spreadsheets rather than the rest of Drive.

Claude Desktop can use the server in both its Chat and Code tabs. The Code tab is described as the more dependable option for long, multi-step jobs because those operations run on your computer. Claude Code connects through the MCP command configured with claude mcp add.

The server remembers spreadsheets used with it in a local recent-sheets file. That list can be searched from Claude Desktop or accessed in Claude Code, and it can be cleared by deleting ~/.sheets-mcp/recent.json. Spreadsheet content read by Claude becomes part of the Claude conversation.

Setup and configuration

For Claude Desktop, download the .mcpb extension, open it, and choose Install. For Claude Code, Node.js 18 or newer is required, followed by:

claude mcp add --scope user google-sheets -- npx -y @sheetsmcp/server

The first Google Sheets request opens a browser sign-in flow. Google may show an unverified-app warning; the setup instructions require choosing Advanced, continuing to Sheets MCP, and granting spreadsheet access. A Google Workspace administrator may need to allow the app under the Admin console's API controls.

Multiple Google accounts can be connected by asking Claude to sign in to another account. The optional ~/.sheets-mcp/settings.json file can specify a browser application, such as Google Chrome, for the sign-in flow. The command line also provides commands for authentication, listing accounts, choosing a default account, and removing an account.

Tools and capabilities

The Sheets MCP MCP server supports:

• Reading and summarizing spreadsheet data.
• Creating spreadsheets and working with multiple sheets.
• Importing information from APIs and files.
• Combining sheets into a new summary workbook.
• Writing formulas and checking for formula errors.
• Applying formatting, freezing headers, and resizing columns.
• Creating, changing, and positioning charts.
• Building pivot tables.
• Updating sheets on a schedule.
• Undoing changes.
• Selecting among multiple Google accounts.
• Browsing recently used spreadsheets.

The examples include importing Stripe payouts, copying data between work and personal accounts, and asking Claude to operate on a spreadsheet by link or by a previously used name.