MCP Config Generator

Build a starter claude_desktop_config.json using maintained official MCP reference servers.

Operating system
Choose servers
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/username/Projects"
      ]
    }
  }
}

This generator runs only in your browser and asks for no tokens. Review every server and folder permission before use. The official servers are reference implementations, not a guarantee that every setup is production-ready. Time and Fetch also require uvx.

Use the result safely

  1. Start with one server and the smallest folder it needs.
  2. Paste the JSON into Claude Desktop's configuration file.
  3. Restart Claude Desktop and confirm the server appears.
  4. Test a read-only task before allowing changes.

If a server fails, verify that Node.js and npx are installed. Time and Fetch require Python's uvx. Do not fix command errors by adding unknown folders to a global PATH.

Check the official MCP reference server repository before installing.

What is MCP, and why does Claude Desktop need this file?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets Claude Desktop call small local helpers, called MCP servers, for abilities beyond conversation: reading files inside folders you approve, remembering facts between sessions, working with time zones, or fetching public web pages. The claude_desktop_config.json file is the switchboard: it tells Claude Desktop exactly which servers to start and with which permissions. This generator writes that starter file for you using the official reference servers maintained in the Model Context Protocol repository, so you are not pasting unverified commands from a random tutorial.

Where the config file lives

On macOS, the file is at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. On Windows, it is at %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Inside Claude Desktop you can also open Settings → Developer → Edit Config, which takes you straight to the right folder. Paste the JSON you copied, save, then fully quit Claude Desktop from the menu bar or system tray and relaunch it — closing the window alone is not a restart.

Which server should you start with?

Start small. One server with the narrowest permissions teaches you more in ten minutes than five servers with broad access ever will.

  • Filesystem — start here. Grant the smallest folder that covers a real task, and widen it only when a workflow demands it.
  • Memory — add when you want Claude to carry facts between sessions, like client names or project conventions.
  • Sequential Thinking — useful for multi-step planning and debugging-heavy sessions.
  • Time and Fetch — handy utilities that require Python's uvx to be installed first.

Frequently asked questions

The generator works, but npx is missing on my machine

Install Node.js, which includes npx, then close and reopen your terminal so the PATH updates. Verify with npx --version before restarting Claude Desktop.

uvx is not installed

The Time and Fetch servers need uvx from Python's uv project. Install uv with its official installer, confirm uvx --version works in a terminal, then restart Claude Desktop.

My server does not appear in Claude Desktop after restarting

Check the JSON for trailing commas or missing braces, confirm the file is in the folder for your operating system (above), and quit Claude Desktop fully from the tray before relaunching. For deeper issues, see our guide to fixing common Claude Cowork errors.

Is my folder path or configuration sent anywhere?

No. The generator runs entirely in your browser. The JSON you copy exists only on your clipboard and, after you paste it, in your local config file. This page has no backend and stores nothing.