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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11If Cursor shows an MCP server but no tools or prompts, check the configuration scope, transport settings, environment variables, server toggle, chat-level tool selection, and MCP logs in that order. Cursor supports MCP tools and prompts, but a list appears only when the configured server starts successfully, is enabled, authenticated when required, and actually exposes the capability.
What “no tools or prompts” usually means
The empty list is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Cursor can support MCP tools and prompts while an individual server is misconfigured, unreachable, disabled, unauthenticated, crashed during startup, or simply not implementing prompts. A server can also be connected while a particular tool is hidden by the chat-level tool selector.
- No server appears: investigate file location, JSON structure, scope, and server enablement.
- Server appears but is disconnected: inspect the command, URL, credentials, environment, and MCP Logs.
- Server says connected but tools are missing: check what the server reports and whether tools are disabled in the current chat.
- Tools appear but prompts do not: the server may not provide prompts; Cursor’s support for the capability does not require every server to implement it.
1. Check the correct MCP configuration file
Cursor recognizes a project file at .cursor/mcp.json and a global file at ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Project and global configuration are merged. If both define the same server name, the project entry takes priority.
Project scope
From the project you actually opened in Cursor, verify that the path is:
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.cursor/mcp.jsonA common mistake is editing a similarly named project, placing the file one directory too high, or opening a different workspace than the one containing the file.
Global scope
Use ~/.cursor/mcp.json for a server intended across projects. Check both files when a server behaves differently between workspaces. A project definition can override the global definition without changing the global file.
Validate the JSON shape
Make sure the file contains a server entry under the expected MCP configuration object, uses double-quoted JSON keys and strings, and has no trailing commas. Compare the entry with the server vendor’s current configuration example rather than guessing field names.
2. Match the configuration to the transport
Cursor documents local stdio, local or remote SSE, and local or remote Streamable HTTP. These transports do not use interchangeable settings.
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Local stdio
A stdio server starts a local executable. Its configuration needs a command and, where required, args, plus any environment values the process needs. Test that the command exists on the machine and can run under the same user account that launches Cursor.
Use an absolute executable path when a shell alias, version manager, or custom PATH is not visible to Cursor. Confirm that every argument is in the correct order and that paths containing spaces are represented as separate argument values rather than one ambiguous shell string.
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Remote SSE or Streamable HTTP
A remote server uses a url and may require authentication headers. Check the complete URL, HTTPS requirements, header names, token format, and whether the endpoint is reachable from the network where Cursor runs.
Cursor resolves variables in fields including command, args, env, url, and headers. Keep secrets out of a file you commit, and verify that the variable is actually defined in Cursor’s environment.
Do not use envFile for a remote server
Cursor documents envFile for stdio servers only. For remote HTTP or SSE connections, use environment variables or configuration interpolation supported by Cursor instead. Putting a remote server’s credentials in envFile can leave the URL present while authentication silently fails.
3. Make environment variables visible to Cursor
A variable that works in a terminal is not automatically available to a graphical application. If the command, URL, or headers depend on a shell-profile variable, start Cursor from an environment where that variable exists or configure it according to Cursor’s documented interpolation rules.
- Identify every variable referenced by the MCP entry.
- Print or otherwise verify its presence in the environment used to launch Cursor, without exposing secret values in logs or screenshots.
- Update the shell profile or operating-system environment if it is missing.
- Save the change and restart Cursor. Cursor’s troubleshooting guidance specifically recommends restarting after updating the shell profile.
For tokens, check expiry, required prefixes such as Bearer, account permissions, and whether the server expects a header rather than a query parameter.
4. Enable the server and the individual tools
Open Customize > MCPs in Cursor and confirm that the server is enabled. A disabled server does not load or appear in chat.
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Then inspect the tools list at the top of the chat panel. Server enablement and chat-level tool selection are separate controls: a connected server can still have individual tools turned off for the current conversation. Re-enable the required tools and start a new chat if the current context has not refreshed.
5. Read MCP Logs before changing more settings
Open the Output panel and select MCP Logs. These logs show initialization, tool calls, and errors. Look for the first meaningful failure, not only the final “no tools” symptom.
- Command not found or spawn failure: correct the executable path, permissions, runtime installation, or PATH.
- JSON or handshake error: fix malformed configuration or use the transport expected by the server.
- 401/403 or authentication error: replace the token, correct the header, or request access from the service owner.
- Timeout or connection refused: verify the URL, server availability, firewall, proxy, VPN, and TLS certificate.
- Process exited or crashed: run the server directly with its documented command and inspect its own stderr output.
- Successful initialization but zero tools: use the CLI to determine whether the server reports no tools or Cursor is hiding them.
6. Save, restart, or re-add the server
After correcting the file, save it and restart Cursor. If the entry remains stale, open Customize > MCPs, remove the server, and add it again. Re-adding is useful when an old transport, URL, or credential is cached in the interface.
Restart after changing shell-profile variables, executable versions, certificates, proxy settings, or authentication. A restart also forces Cursor to repeat the MCP initialization handshake.
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7. Verify with the Cursor CLI
When the interface is ambiguous, the Cursor CLI can separate configuration discovery from chat display:
agent mcp list
agent mcp list-tools <identifier>agent mcp list shows configured server status and configuration source. agent mcp list-tools <identifier> reports the tool names and descriptions the server provides.
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For related account and state checks, Cursor also documents:
agent mcp login <identifier>
agent mcp enable <identifier>If list-tools returns tools but chat does not, inspect the chat tool toggles and restart the conversation. If it returns none, the issue is on the server, transport, authentication, or server capability side rather than a hidden chat control.
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| Concern | Local stdio | Remote HTTP/SSE |
|---|---|---|
| Where code runs | On the computer running Cursor | At the configured service endpoint |
| Main configuration | command and args |
url and authentication headers |
| Environment handling | Supports envFile for stdio |
Do not use envFile; use variables or interpolation |
| Typical failure | Missing runtime, PATH, permissions, or crashed process | Bad URL, network access, TLS, token, or server policy |
| Sharing | Each developer installs and maintains the process | One service can be shared, subject to access and policy |
Team and enterprise policy can override a correct setup
For managed teams, ask an administrator to check distribution and policy. Cursor can distribute a Team MCP through team settings, but adding a server to a team marketplace does not install or enable it for every developer. Enterprise allowlists can restrict which MCP servers or tools users may run.
If the same configuration works for an administrator but not for you, compare team policy, account membership, enablement state, and the exact project file being used before changing the server code.
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Troubleshooting checklist
- Confirm you edited the intended
.cursor/mcp.jsonor~/.cursor/mcp.json. - Check project-over-global precedence for duplicate server names.
- Validate JSON syntax and required fields.
- Use stdio fields for a local process and URL/header fields for remote transport.
- Verify variables, credentials, permissions, and token expiry.
- Enable the server in Customize > MCPs.
- Enable the individual tool in the chat tool list.
- Read the first actionable error in Output > MCP Logs.
- Run
agent mcp listandagent mcp list-tools <identifier>. - Save, restart, or remove and re-add the server.
- Ask a team administrator to check distribution and allowlists.
FAQ
Why does my MCP server show as connected but have no prompts?
Connection does not prove that the server implements prompts. Use the server’s documented capability list and inspect MCP Logs; Cursor’s support for prompts does not make prompts mandatory for every server.
Will moving a server from global to project scope fix it?
Only if the original file was not being loaded or was overridden. Both scopes are supported, and a project entry wins when the server name is duplicated.
Can a team marketplace entry enable MCP automatically?
No. Team distribution and individual enablement are separate, and enterprise policy may restrict the server or its tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my MCP server show as connected but have no prompts?
Connection does not prove that the server implements prompts. Check its documented capabilities and MCP Logs.
Will moving a server from global to project scope fix it?
Only when the original file was not loaded or was overridden; project configuration takes priority for duplicate server names.
Can a team marketplace entry enable MCP automatically?
No. Distribution, user enablement, and enterprise policy are separate.
The Bottom Line
Start with MCP Logs, then verify scope, transport, environment, enablement, and the server’s reported capabilities. The CLI commands agent mcp list and agent mcp list-tools <identifier> quickly show whether the missing tools are a Cursor display issue or a server-side problem.
Quick Recap
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