Connect a remote MCP server to Claude Code with the claude mcp add command and the server’s published endpoint:
claude mcp add --transport http <name> <url>For example, Anthropic documents:
claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcpReplace both notion and the URL with values supplied by your MCP server operator. The endpoint must support the HTTP transport Claude Code expects; a normal website or REST API URL is not automatically an MCP endpoint.
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Before you connect: confirm the endpoint and prerequisites
Ask the service provider for its MCP endpoint, supported remote transport, and authentication method. Anthropic documents HTTP and SSE as separate remote options. Use --transport http only when the server supports HTTP (often called Streamable HTTP); use SSE only when the provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Claude Code prerequisites
These are general Claude Code setup requirements, not requirements unique to MCP over HTTP. Anthropic lists macOS 10.15 or later, Ubuntu 20.04 or later or Debian 10 or later, and Windows 10 with WSL 1/2 or Git for Windows. The setup guidance also lists at least 4 GB of RAM and Node.js 18 or later. Check the current Claude Code setup guide for current installation details.
What MCP provides
Anthropic describes the Model Context Protocol as “an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs.” In Claude Code, an MCP server exposes tools or resources that Claude can use after the connection is configured.
Add a remote HTTP MCP server
- Obtain the exact MCP URL from the operator. Confirm that it is an MCP endpoint, not the service’s home page or an unrelated API endpoint.
- Choose a short server name. This name becomes the identifier used by Claude Code commands.
- Run the add command from your terminal:
claude mcp add --transport http <name> <url> - Start Claude Code in the relevant project and inspect the available MCP connections with
/mcp.
Anthropic’s documented example is:
claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcpDo not assume that this example endpoint is suitable for another account, region, or third-party service. Use the URL published by the server’s operator.
Authenticate the connection
Bearer token in a header
If the server requires a static token, Claude Code supports a header argument:
claude mcp add --transport http --header "Authorization: Bearer your-token" <name> <url>Use a placeholder while documenting or testing a command. Never paste a real credential into a shell history, a ticket, or a committed project file. A token in a command line may be visible through shell history or process inspection, depending on your operating system.
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OAuth 2.0
For an OAuth-protected remote server, add the server first, then run /mcp inside Claude Code. The interactive MCP interface can start the browser-based authorization flow. Anthropic states that OAuth applies to both HTTP and SSE remote transports. Complete authorization in the browser account requested by the provider, then return to Claude Code and check the connection.
Environment variables for shared configuration
Anthropic documents environment-variable expansion in .mcp.json, including ${VAR} and ${VAR:-default}. This keeps shared configuration separate from secret values. For example:
{
"mcpServers": {
"internal-tools": {
"type": "http",
"url": "${MCP_URL}",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer ${MCP_TOKEN}"
}
}
}
}Set the variables before launching Claude Code:
export MCP_URL="https://example.invalid/mcp"
export MCP_TOKEN="replace-with-a-secret"If a referenced variable has neither a value nor a default, parsing fails. Treat the resulting configuration as sensitive even when the secret itself is supplied through the environment.
Choose the right configuration scope
Claude Code can store MCP server entries at different scopes. Choose based on who should receive the connection and where it should be available.
| Scope | Best for | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Local | A private connection for your current user and project context | Useful when the endpoint or credentials should not be shared with the team |
| Project | A team configuration committed in the project root | Stored in .mcp.json; Claude Code prompts for approval before using project-scoped servers |
| User | Your server across multiple projects | Available to that user’s projects, so review its tools and credentials carefully |
Use project scope only when everyone who receives the configuration should understand and approve the tools exposed by that server. Keep tokens out of the JSON by using environment-variable expansion.
Verify, inspect, and remove the server
List configured servers
claude mcp listThis shows the MCP entries Claude Code knows about. A listed entry confirms configuration, not that the remote service is reachable or that your account is authorized.
Inspect one entry
claude mcp get <name>Replace <name> with the identifier used in claude mcp add. Check the transport, URL, and non-secret settings for spelling errors.
Use the interactive MCP interface
Inside Claude Code, enter:
/mcpUse this interface to view remote connections and complete OAuth when the server uses browser authorization.
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HTTP versus SSE: do not guess
HTTP and SSE are both documented remote transport choices, but they are not interchangeable settings. The server operator determines which one the endpoint supports. If the provider gives an SSE URL, follow its SSE instructions rather than forcing --transport http. If it gives a Streamable HTTP endpoint, use the HTTP command shown above.
A URL that returns JSON in a browser, an ordinary REST endpoint, or a web application login page does not prove that it is an MCP endpoint. The operator should identify the transport and authentication requirements explicitly.
Proxy and network behavior
Claude Code respects the HTTP_PROXY and HTTPS_PROXY environment variables. Anthropic’s corporate proxy guidance says Claude Code does not support NO_PROXY and does not support SOCKS proxies. These are general Claude Code networking notes, so verify your organization’s proxy policy before troubleshooting the MCP server itself.
export HTTPS_PROXY="http://proxy.example:8080"
export HTTP_PROXY="http://proxy.example:8080"
claude mcp listDo not publish proxy credentials in a project file. If your proxy performs TLS inspection, your organization may also need its approved certificate installed in the operating system or runtime trust store.
Troubleshooting common failures
“Unknown option” or command syntax errors
- Confirm that the command uses
--transport http, followed by a name and URL. - Check your Claude Code version and the current CLI reference.
- Quote URLs containing shell-special characters.
The server appears in the list but tools do not load
- Run
claude mcp get <name>and verify the endpoint exactly matches the provider’s MCP URL. - Confirm that the endpoint supports HTTP rather than SSE.
- Check whether the server requires OAuth or a bearer header.
- Use
/mcpto complete an outstanding OAuth flow.
Authentication fails
- Regenerate or re-copy the token without surrounding quotation marks becoming part of the value.
- Ensure the header is formatted as
Authorization: Bearer token. - For OAuth, sign in with the account that has access to the server and complete every consent screen.
- Move secrets to environment variables instead of committing them to
.mcp.json.
Configuration parsing fails
Inspect every environment-variable reference in .mcp.json. A variable written as ${VAR} must be set, unless a default is provided with ${VAR:-default}. A missing required value can prevent the configuration from loading at all.
Requests time out behind a corporate network
- Check
HTTP_PROXYandHTTPS_PROXYvalues. - Ask your network administrator whether outbound access to the MCP host is allowed.
- Remember that Claude Code does not support SOCKS proxies or
NO_PROXYaccording to Anthropic’s proxy documentation. - Test the same endpoint from the same machine and network, then distinguish a network failure from an MCP authentication failure.
A project server asks for approval
That behavior is expected for project-scoped servers. Review the server’s URL and exposed tools before approving it. If the connection is personal, use a local or user scope instead of adding it to the shared project configuration.
Operational and security practices
- Obtain endpoints from the service operator and record which transport they support.
- Use the narrowest scope that meets your sharing needs.
- Keep bearer tokens and OAuth credentials out of source control and shell transcripts where possible.
- Review project-scoped MCP changes like any other code or dependency change.
- Remove stale entries with
claude mcp removewhen a service is retired or access is revoked. - Recheck Anthropic’s documentation before automating setup because CLI syntax, authentication behavior, and third-party endpoints can change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect an MCP server without committing a project file?
Yes. Use a local or user-scoped configuration instead of project scope. Project scope is intended for shared configuration in the project root.
Does a successful `claude mcp list` test the server?
No. It confirms that Claude Code has a configured entry. Reachability, authentication, and tool availability still need to be checked through the MCP interface.
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Use the transport the provider recommends for your client and account. Select HTTP with `–transport http` only for the HTTP endpoint.
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