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A Claude Code MCP server can appear connected while its configuration is in the wrong scope, its endpoint is unauthenticated, or its tools are awaiting approval or blocked by permissions. Check those three gates in order: configuration, connection and authentication, then approval and tool access. If all three pass, investigate Claude Code’s installation and your network environment.

Gate 1: Is Claude Code loading the server you intended?

Start by checking which MCP servers Claude Code has configured and whether you are working in the project where you expect the server to be available. Configuration scope matters: local, project, and user-scoped servers have different availability and sharing behavior. A server added in one context may not be available in another.

  1. Run claude mcp list to see configured servers.

  2. For a particular server, run claude mcp get <name> to inspect its configuration.

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  3. Confirm that the current working directory and configuration scope match where you added the server.

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Project-scoped servers can be defined in .mcp.json and may require approval before use. If the expected server is absent from the session, resolve its scope or project context before debugging how it starts. See Anthropic’s MCP configuration and troubleshooting guide.

Gate 2: Can the server process or remote endpoint connect?

Once the intended server appears, check how it connects. Local stdio servers and remote HTTP or SSE servers have different startup and authentication paths; a configuration that is valid for one is not interchangeable with the other.

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For a local stdio server

Verify that the configured command and arguments run in the same environment as Claude Code. On native Windows, Anthropic documents a case where launching an npx server requires a cmd /c wrapper. Without it, the connection can close during startup. This is a Windows-specific check, not a universal fix: compare the command to the server’s requirements and the documented example in the MCP guide.

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For a remote server

If the endpoint uses OAuth, authenticate through Claude Code’s /mcp menu. Anthropic documents OAuth for SSE and HTTP transports, and the same menu provides a way to clear authentication. Check that the endpoint and credentials are for the server you intend to use; a server listed in configuration is not necessarily authenticated.

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If startup is slow

The MCP_TIMEOUT setting changes the server startup wait limit. Increasing it may help when a server needs longer to start, but it does not establish that the server is healthy or reachable. Consult the current MCP guide for the setting and its use.

Gate 3: Is the tool approved and permitted?

A connection alone does not mean that a particular tool is available to the current session. Check for approval requests for project-scoped MCP configuration, then verify the session’s permission rules. Do not disable permission checks broadly to test one integration.

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  1. Confirm the exact MCP server name and tool name you expect to call.

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  2. Review any pending approval for the project’s .mcp.json configuration.

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  3. Check whether session rules allow or disallow the relevant tool. The CLI documents --allowedTools and --disallowedTools; adjust access deliberately and only as needed.

  4. Make a minimal request that specifically uses the intended tool, then note whether the tool is unavailable, denied, or returns an error.

In SDK documentation, MCP tool names follow the pattern mcp__<serverName>__<toolName>. Check the CLI permission reference and SDK documentation when diagnosing a name or permission mismatch.

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If all three gates pass, check installation and network

Check Claude Code itself

Run claude doctor to inspect the installation type and version. If the failure persists, use the CLI’s --verbose option to capture full turn-by-turn output that may help identify where the request fails. See Anthropic’s setup guide and CLI reference.

Check corporate proxy and certificates

For a managed network, review whether the required proxy and certificate settings are configured. Anthropic’s proxy guidance covers HTTP_PROXY, HTTPS_PROXY, and certificate bundle settings; it also states that NO_PROXY and SOCKS proxies are not supported. Follow the current instructions in the corporate proxy guide, since network requirements and product documentation can change.

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