How to add JetBrains MCP Proxy to Claude Desktop

Connect MCP clients to a running JetBrains IDE (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, Android Studio). Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 15, 2026 · 5.0k★ · stdio · no auth · official

Claude Desktop config for JetBrains MCP Proxy

npx -y @jetbrains/mcp-proxy

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jetbrains-mcp-proxy": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@jetbrains/mcp-proxy"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

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

Before you start

Node.js 18 or later (Node 16 is not supported)
A running JetBrains IDE (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, Android Studio, etc.)
The JetBrains 'MCP Server' plugin installed from the Marketplace (for IDE versions before 2025.2; in 2025.2+ the functionality is built in)
No API key or token is required — the proxy connects to the IDE on localhost

What JetBrains MCP Proxy can do in Claude Desktop

get_open_in_editor_file_text

Return the full text of the file currently open in the editor

get_open_in_editor_file_path

Return the absolute path of the currently open file

get_file_text_by_path

Read the contents of a file by its path

replace_file_text_by_path

Replace the contents of a file at a given path

create_new_file_with_text

Create a new file with the supplied content

list_files_in_folder

List files in a folder / list currently open files

search_in_files_content

Search the project for text/files by name

execute_terminal_command

Run a shell command in the IDE's integrated terminal

Security

The proxy can drive the IDE to read and modify files and run code in your open project, so only connect trusted clients. On IDE 2025.2+ prefer the built-in MCP server over this bridge.

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

Is JetBrains MCP Proxy safe to use with Claude Desktop?

The proxy can drive the IDE to read and modify files and run code in your open project, so only connect trusted clients. On IDE 2025.2+ prefer the built-in MCP server over this bridge.

Is this proxy still needed?

On IntelliJ-based IDEs version 2025.2 and later, no — MCP server functionality is built into the IDE and configured via AI Assistant settings. The standalone proxy is mainly for older IDE versions.

Does it require an API key?

No. The proxy connects to your running IDE over localhost (127.0.0.1), so there are no credentials to configure.

How does it pick which IDE instance to connect to?

It auto-detects the IDE's built-in web server port; if you run multiple IDEs you can set the IDE_PORT environment variable to target a specific one.

View repo Full JetBrains MCP Proxy page