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How to add MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) to Claude Desktop

Google's official MCP server with prebuilt BigQuery tools, querying datasets via Application Default Credentials. Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 15, 2026 · 16k★ · stdio · oauth · official

Claude Desktop config for MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery)

brew install mcp-toolbox && toolbox --prebuilt bigquery --stdio
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-toolbox-for-databases-bigquery": {
      "command": "/absolute/path/to/toolbox",
      "args": [
        "--prebuilt",
        "bigquery",
        "--stdio"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BIGQUERY_PROJECT": "<your-gcp-project-id>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

  1. 1Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config (this opens ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json).
  2. 2Paste the MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) 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 MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery)'s tools appear under the 🔌 tools menu.

Before you start

  • The toolbox binary (download from GitHub releases and `chmod +x`), or run via container/source; MCP Toolbox v0.7.0 or later for the full BigQuery toolset
  • A Google Cloud project with the BigQuery API enabled
  • Application Default Credentials configured locally (e.g. `gcloud auth application-default login`) or a service account key
  • IAM roles on the project/dataset such as BigQuery User and BigQuery Data Viewer (read), plus Job User to run queries
  • An MCP-capable client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Gemini/ADK, etc.)

What MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) can do in Claude Desktop

bigquery-execute-sql

Run an arbitrary SQL statement against BigQuery and return results

bigquery-sql

Run a parameterized/templated SQL query defined as a tool

bigquery-list-dataset-ids

List dataset IDs available in a project

bigquery-get-dataset-info

Get metadata for a given BigQuery dataset

bigquery-list-table-ids

Return the table IDs in a given dataset

bigquery-get-table-info

Get schema and metadata for a given table

bigquery-search-catalog

Find tables using a natural-language search over the data catalog

bigquery-forecast

Forecast time-series data using BigQuery ML forecasting

Security

Authentication relies on your local gcloud Application Default Credentials, so the server inherits whatever BigQuery permissions that identity has; use a least-privilege account. The command path must point at the toolbox binary you installed, so verify its absolute path.

MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) + 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 MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) safe to use with Claude Desktop?

Authentication relies on your local gcloud Application Default Credentials, so the server inherits whatever BigQuery permissions that identity has; use a least-privilege account. The command path must point at the toolbox binary you installed, so verify its absolute path.

How does authentication work?

It uses Google Application Default Credentials (ADC). Run `gcloud auth application-default login` for local dev, or attach a service account with the right BigQuery IAM roles.

Can I make it read-only?

Yes. Scope the credential's IAM to read roles (e.g. BigQuery Data Viewer / Job User) and expose only the read/metadata tools in your tools.yaml to enforce a read-only production pattern.

Is this the same as 'GenAI Toolbox'?

Yes. MCP Toolbox for Databases is the renamed GenAI Toolbox, maintained by Google under the googleapis org, and works with Google's ADK as well as standard MCP clients.

View repo Full MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) page