Official MCP Reference Servers: A Safer Starter List

The Model Context Protocol reference repository is intentionally small. It currently highlights maintained reference servers for Filesystem, Fetch, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking, and Time, while many older examples have moved to an archive.

Use reference servers to learn and test. Their presence in the official repository does not automatically make every server or permission suitable for production.

Recommended starting order

1. Filesystem

Use it to read and write within folders you explicitly allow.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/your-name/Projects/approved-folder"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Start with a copied test folder. Do not point it at your home directory, cloud-drive root, password store, or an entire work disk.

2. Memory

Memory provides a local knowledge graph for information you deliberately save.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory"]
    }
  }
}

Do not store secrets or personal information unless you have checked where the selected implementation persists its data.

3. Sequential Thinking

This reference server exposes a structured reasoning tool for problems that benefit from explicit steps.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"]
    }
  }
}

4. Time

The Time reference server is distributed through Python and can be launched with uvx.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "time": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-time"]
    }
  }
}

5. Fetch

Fetch retrieves public pages and converts them into a form the model can read.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fetch": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-fetch"]
    }
  }
}

Treat fetched pages as untrusted content. A page can contain prompt-injection instructions, misleading links, or sensitive form fields.

6. Git

The Git reference server exposes repository operations and should be scoped to a specific repository.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "git": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-git", "--repository", "/path/to/repository"]
    }
  }
}

Keep commit, push, merge, and history-changing actions under human review.

Windows note

If Claude Desktop cannot launch an npx package directly on Windows, use cmd as the command and put /c, npx, and the remaining arguments in the argument list. Do not paste a macOS PATH into Windows or globally inject an unknown PATH to hide a missing installation.

The MCP Config Generator creates both macOS/Linux and Windows starter output.

Servers this guide no longer recommends

Older tutorials often used the former GitHub, SQLite, Brave Search, and Puppeteer reference packages. The official MCP project moved those implementations to an archive and warns that archived servers may be unmaintained and may have unresolved security issues.

That does not mean the underlying use cases are impossible. It means you should choose a current provider-maintained or community server after checking:

  • Repository ownership and recent maintenance
  • Published package identity
  • Requested credentials and permissions
  • Data storage and network destinations
  • Security advisories and open issues
  • A way to revoke access quickly

Never paste a production token into a web generator or a configuration you have not reviewed.

Installation checklist

  1. Install Node.js for npx servers and uvx for Python servers.
  2. Add one server at a time.
  3. Use the smallest folder, repository, or account scope.
  4. Restart Claude Desktop and confirm the server is listed.
  5. Test a read-only request.
  6. Inspect the result before allowing writes or external actions.
  7. Remove servers you no longer use.

Keep the list current

Check the official MCP servers repository before installing. For historical packages and the archive warning, see the archived servers repository.

Related Guides

Last updated: July 17, 2026