Cursor MCP Setup: Connect Your IDE to External Tools

TL;DR: Add MCP servers to Cursor via ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Start with Context7 for up-to-date docs, add Chrome DevTools for debugging, and GitHub for PR management. Same config format as Claude Desktop.

You're coding in Cursor and ask: "What's in my database schema?"

Without MCP: "I can't access your database. Please share the schema."

With MCP: "Your users table has 12 columns. Here's the structure..."

Cursor MCP connects your AI coding assistant to real tools — databases, GitHub, file systems, browsers. This guide shows you how to set it up.

Quick Setup (2 Minutes)#

Step 1: Create Config File#

Create ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (project-specific):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Step 2: Restart Cursor#

Fully restart — not just reload window. MCP servers connect at startup.

Step 3: Test It#

Ask Cursor: "Show me the latest Next.js routing documentation"

If you get current docs, MCP is working.

Best Servers for Developers#

Config File Locations#

Project-specific configs override global. Use project configs for team-shared setups.

Real Developer Workflows#

Backend Developer Setup#

Connect to your database with up-to-date docs and structured problem-solving:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"]
    },
    "postgres": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres", "postgresql://localhost/mydb"]
    },
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"]
    }
  }
}

Now you can ask:

• "Show me the latest Prisma docs for migrations"
• "Write a query to find inactive users"
• "Think through the best indexing strategy for this schema"

Full-Stack Developer Setup#

Essential stack for frontend + backend work:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"]
    },
    "shadcn-ui": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "shadcn-ui-mcp-server"]
    },
    "chrome-devtools": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "chrome-devtools-mcp"]
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": { "GITHUB_TOKEN": "ghp_your_token" }
    },
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@playwright/mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Now Cursor can:

• Get current React/Next.js/any library docs
• Build UI with shadcn/ui components correctly
• Debug LCP issues and read console logs via Chrome DevTools MCP
• Create PRs and manage repos
• Run browser tests

Cursor vs Claude Desktop#

Same JSON format, same servers. Copy configs between apps — they're compatible.

Troubleshooting#

Server Not Connecting#

Check Server Status#

1. Open Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P)
2. Type "MCP: Show Server Status"
3. Look for green indicators

Test Manually#

Run the server in terminal first:

npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /your/project

If it works here, the issue is Cursor config. If it fails, the server has a problem.

Pro Tips#

Use project-specific configs — Put .cursor/mcp.json in your repo. Each project gets the servers it needs.

Start simple — Begin with Context7. Add more as needed.

Environment variables — Store tokens in env vars, not config files:

"env": { "GITHUB_TOKEN": "${env:GITHUB_TOKEN}" }

Workspace path — Use variables for portable configs:

"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "${workspaceFolder}"]

Frequently Asked Questions#

Does Cursor support MCP?#

Yes. Cursor has native MCP support since late 2024. Configure servers in ~/.cursor/mcp.json.

What's the difference between Cursor MCP and Claude MCP?#

Same protocol, same config format. Both use mcpServers key. Configs are fully compatible.

Which servers should I start with?#

Context7 for docs, Chrome DevTools MCP for debugging. Add shadcn-ui for UI work, GitHub for collaboration.

Can I use the same servers as Claude Desktop?#

Yes. Copy configs directly — both apps use identical mcpServers format.

Your Dev MCP Stack#

Related: Claude MCP Setup | GitHub MCP Server | What is MCP?