How to Install an MCP Server (Step by Step)
Last updated 2026-09-14
Quick answer
Installing an MCP server is usually a three-step job: pick a server, add a short config block to your AI client, then restart. This guide walks through the general process and the two most common transport types.
1. Find the server and its package
Every server on MCPNav lists an install command and a ready-to-paste client config. Servers are distributed three ways: as npm packages (run with npx), as Python packages (run with uvx) and as remote HTTP/SSE endpoints (no install at all).
2. Add the config to your client
Most clients read a JSON file with an mcpServers object. Here is the shape for a local npm server and a remote server:
- ▸Local (npx): { "mcpServers": { "name": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "package-name"] } } }
- ▸Remote (HTTP): { "mcpServers": { "name": { "url": "https://server.example.com/mcp" } } }
- ▸With secrets: add an "env" object such as { "BRAVE_API_KEY": "..." }
3. Restart and verify
Restart the client so it loads the new server. Then ask the model to list its tools, or open the client's MCP panel — you should see the server and its tools appear. If nothing shows up, check the client's log output and confirm Node.js (for npx) or uv (for uvx) is installed.
Prerequisites
Most servers need one of the following installed locally:
- ▸Node.js 18+ so npx can run npm-based servers
- ▸uv (Python) so uvx can run Python-based servers
- ▸Any API keys the server documents, usually passed via the env block
Frequently asked questions
Where is the MCP config file on Claude Desktop?＋
On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. On Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json.
Do I need Node.js for every server?＋
Only for servers distributed as npm packages. Python servers use uv/uvx and remote servers need nothing.
How do I know a server is installed correctly?＋
The client shows the server in its MCP or tools panel, and asking the model to list tools returns the server's tools.