MCP Directory

How to add Linear MCP Server to Claude Desktop

Let LLMs create, search, update, and comment on Linear issues through the Model Context Protocol. Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 14, 2026 · 344★ · stdio · apikey

Claude Desktop config for Linear MCP Server

npx @smithery/cli install linear-mcp-server --client claude
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linear-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "linear-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "LINEAR_API_KEY": "your_linear_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

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

Before you start

  • A Linear API key for your team (from https://linear.app/YOUR-TEAM/settings/api)
  • Node.js with npx available
  • An MCP client such as Claude Desktop

What Linear MCP Server can do in Claude Desktop

linear_create_issue

Create a new Linear issue. Required: title, teamId. Optional: description (markdown), priority (0-4), status.

linear_update_issue

Update an existing issue. Required: id. Optional: title, description, priority (0-4), status.

linear_search_issues

Search issues with flexible filtering. Optional: query, teamId, status, assigneeId, labels, priority, limit (default 10).

linear_get_user_issues

Get issues assigned to a user. Optional: userId (omit for authenticated user), includeArchived, limit (default 50).

linear_add_comment

Add a comment to an issue. Required: issueId, body (markdown). Optional: createAsUser, displayIconUrl.

Security

Requires a Linear API key (LINEAR_API_KEY) with access to your team's data. The key is passed via environment variable in the client config; treat it as a secret and scope it to the minimum team access needed. This server is deprecated and unmaintained.

Linear 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 Linear MCP Server config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is Linear MCP Server safe to use with Claude Desktop?

Requires a Linear API key (LINEAR_API_KEY) with access to your team's data. The key is passed via environment variable in the client config; treat it as a secret and scope it to the minimum team access needed. This server is deprecated and unmaintained.

Is this server still maintained?

No. The README states it is deprecated and no longer maintained. The author recommends Linear's official remote MCP server at https://mcp.linear.app/sse.

How do I authenticate?

Create a Linear API key for your team at https://linear.app/YOUR-TEAM/settings/api and set it as the LINEAR_API_KEY environment variable in your MCP client config.

How do I install it?

Automatically via Smithery (npx @smithery/cli install linear-mcp-server --client claude), or manually by adding the mcpServers config block (command npx, args -y linear-mcp-server) to your Claude Desktop config with your LINEAR_API_KEY.

View repo Full Linear MCP Server page