How to add InstantDB MCP to Claude Desktop

Create, manage, and query your InstantDB apps, schemas, permissions, and data from your AI editor. Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 14, 2026 · 10k★ · http · oauth

Claude Desktop config for InstantDB MCP

npx -y @instantdb/mcp --token <token>

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instantdb-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.instantdb.com/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop connects to remote servers through the `mcp-remote` proxy (installed on first run via npx). Restart Claude Desktop after saving.

Setup steps

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

Before you start

An InstantDB account (sign up at instantdb.com)
For the remote server: complete the OAuth flow to grant access to your Instant account
For the local stdio server: a personal access token from your Instant dashboard, and Node.js >= 18

What InstantDB MCP can do in Claude Desktop

learn

If you don't have any context provided about InstantDB, use this tool to learn about it. Points the LLM to Instant's rules/AGENTS.md file.

get-schema

Fetch the schema for an app by its ID (uses instant-cli pull schema to populate a local instant.schema.ts).

get-perms

Fetch the permission rules for an app by its ID (uses instant-cli pull perms to populate a local instant.perms.ts).

push-schema

Push local schema changes for an app to the server after editing instant.schema.ts (supports field renames via --rename).

push-perms

Push local permission changes for an app to the server after editing instant.perms.ts.

query

Execute an InstaQL query against an app and return the results as JSON.

transact

Execute a transaction against an app to create, update, link/unlink, or delete data using the internal transaction step format.

Security

The hosted remote server (https://mcp.instantdb.com/mcp) uses an OAuth flow to grant access to your Instant account. The local stdio server requires a personal access token from your Instant dashboard, passed via --token or the INSTANT_ACCESS_TOKEN environment variable; treat this token as a secret since it grants full management access to your Instant apps, schemas, permissions, and data.

InstantDB MCP + 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 InstantDB MCP config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is InstantDB MCP safe to use with Claude Desktop?

Do I need to install anything to use the remote server?

No. Point your client at https://mcp.instantdb.com/mcp (streamable HTTP) or https://mcp.instantdb.com/sse (legacy SSE). You'll be sent through an OAuth flow to grant access to your Instant account.

How do I run it locally instead?

Get a personal access token from your Instant dashboard, then run `npx -y @instantdb/mcp --token <token>` in stdio mode. You can also set INSTANT_ACCESS_TOKEN instead of passing --token.

How do I add it to Claude Code?

On a paid Claude plan, run `claude mcp add instant -s user -t http https://mcp.instantdb.com/mcp`, then run /mcp in Claude Code and complete the auth flow.

View repo Full InstantDB MCP page