Getting Started with MCP: Install Your First Server in 10 Minutes

8 min read

This guide walks you through installing the filesystem MCP server — one of the most useful servers for developers — in Claude Desktop on macOS. The same pattern applies to any server and any client.

Prerequisites

You need: (1) Node.js 18+ installed (run `node --version` to check), (2) Claude Desktop installed and signed in, (3) a text editor to modify a JSON config file. That's it.

Step 1: Install the server package

Open your terminal and run: `npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem` This installs the filesystem MCP server globally so Claude Desktop can find it.

Step 2: Find your config file

On macOS, Claude Desktop's config file is at: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` Open it in your text editor. If it doesn't exist yet, create it.

Step 3: Add the server config

Paste this into your config file (replace /Users/you/projects with the path you want the AI to access): { "mcpServers": { "filesystem": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/you/projects"] } } }

Step 4: Restart Claude Desktop

Quit Claude Desktop completely (Cmd+Q) and reopen it. If the server connected successfully, you'll see a tools icon (hammer) in the message input area showing the available tools.

Step 5: Test it

Ask Claude: "What files are in my projects directory?" Claude will call the filesystem server's list_directory tool and show you the result. From here, you can ask it to read files, search for content, and more.

Adding more servers

To add more servers, just add more entries under the "mcpServers" key in your config. Each server is independent. Browse the MCP Servers section of this hub to find servers for your workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the server doesn't appear after restarting?

Check your config file for JSON syntax errors (missing commas, unclosed braces). You can validate JSON at jsonlint.com. Also verify the npm package is installed: run `npx @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem --version`.

Can I use npx instead of installing globally?

Yes. Using `npx -y package-name` in the args means the server is fetched on demand. Global install (`npm install -g`) is slightly faster at startup.

Is there a risk of the AI modifying my files?

The filesystem server exposes both read and write tools. You can limit it to a specific directory (as shown above) to reduce risk. Always point it at a directory you're comfortable giving the AI access to.

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MCP Tools vs. Resources

MCP Clients Guide

6 min

What is MCP?

5 min

Anatomy of an MCP Server

7 min

Ready to install your first server?

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