MCP Directory

How to add Context7 MCP Server to Claude Desktop

Up-to-date, version-specific library documentation injected into your coding agent. Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 15, 2026 · 28k★ · stdio · apikey · official

Claude Desktop config for Context7 MCP Server

npx -y @upstash/context7-mcp
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@upstash/context7-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "<optional-your-context7-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

  1. 1Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config (this opens ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json).
  2. 2Paste the Context7 MCP Server config below under the top-level "mcpServers" key.
  3. 3Fill in any placeholder secrets (API keys, paths) in the snippet.
  4. 4Save the file, then fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop.
  5. 5Open a chat and confirm Context7 MCP Server's tools appear under the 🔌 tools menu.

Before you start

  • Node.js 18 or newer (for the local stdio server via npx)
  • An MCP-capable client (Cursor, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, VS Code, Windsurf, OpenCode, and 30+ others)
  • A free Context7 API key from https://context7.com/dashboard for higher rate limits (optional but recommended; passed via the CONTEXT7_API_KEY header or --api-key)

What Context7 MCP Server can do in Claude Desktop

resolve-library-id

Resolves a plain library name into a Context7-compatible ID (e.g. next.js -> /vercel/next.js), ranking matches by trust score and doc coverage.

query-docs

Fetches up-to-date, version-specific documentation and code examples for a given Context7 library ID and topic/query (current upstream tool name; some clients/mirrors expose it as get-library-docs).

Security

Basic use needs no credentials; an optional CONTEXT7_API_KEY only raises rate limits and should be kept secret. The server fetches third-party documentation, so treat returned content as untrusted input.

Context7 MCP Server + Claude Desktop FAQ

Where is the Claude Desktop config file?

Claude Desktop reads MCP servers from ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Paste the Context7 MCP Server config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is Context7 MCP Server safe to use with Claude Desktop?

Basic use needs no credentials; an optional CONTEXT7_API_KEY only raises rate limits and should be kept secret. The server fetches third-party documentation, so treat returned content as untrusted input.

Do I need an API key?

You can use Context7 without one, but a free key from context7.com/dashboard raises rate limits and is recommended; pass it via the CONTEXT7_API_KEY header or --api-key flag.

Can I run it remotely instead of installing it?

Yes. Point your client at the hosted endpoint https://mcp.context7.com/mcp and supply your API key in the header, no local Node required.

What's the resolve-library-id step for?

It maps a human library name to a precise Context7 ID. You must call it before fetching docs unless you already pass an ID in /org/project or /org/project/version form.

View repo Full Context7 MCP Server page