Configuring MCP in Claude Code from Claude Desktop

date

May 28, 2025

slug

mcp-claude-code-setup

status

Published

What is MCP, anyway?

Think of MCP as a bridge between Claude and the outside world. It's a protocol that lets Claude interact with external tools and services through a standardized interface. Want Claude to manage your Notion workspace? Read from databases? Control your smart home? MCP makes it possible.

The Setup Process

Here's the thing - setting up MCP in Claude Code is surprisingly straightforward. Let me break it down:

Step 1: Install Claude Code & Claude Desktop

First things first, you'll need Claude Code installed. If you haven't already:

And Clause Desktop

Step 2: Configure your MCP settings

I found the easy way to install Claude Code MCP servers is to import your MCP configuration in your Claude Desktop settings. On macOS, you'll find this at:

Else navigate through the developer tab in Claude Desktop. From the top bar, Claude, Settings, then the developer tab from the pop up.

Here's what mine looks like with the Notion MCP server configured:

Step 3: Get your API credentials

For Notion specifically, you'll need to:

Go to https://www.notion.so/my-integrations

Create a new integration

Copy the Internal Integration Token

Share your Notion pages/databases with the integration

Step 4: Import Claude Desktop MCP Servers

Claude Code provides a handy command to automatically import your existing MCP configuration:

This command will:

Read your Claude Desktop configuration file

Import all configured MCP servers

Set up Claude Code to use the same servers automatically

Step 5: Restart Claude Code

After updating the config, restart Claude Code to pick up the changes:

Step 6: Verifying Your Setup

Once you've restarted Claude Code, you can check if MCP is working by running in Claude Code:

You should see something like:

Real-World Example: Creating This Blog Post

Here's the cool part - I actually used MCP to create this very blog post! With the Notion MCP server connected, I could simply ask Claude:

"Create a blog post in my Savich.au database about configuring MCP in Claude Code"

And Claude handled everything - creating the page, setting the properties, adding the content, and even publishing it. No manual copying and pasting, no switching between apps. Just pure productivity.

Other MCP Servers You Can Use

Notion is just the beginning. The MCP ecosystem is growing rapidly. Here are some other servers you might find useful:

Filesystem - Give Claude direct access to your files (be careful with this one!)

GitHub - Manage repos, issues, and PRs

Slack - Send messages and manage channels

PostgreSQL - Query and manage databases

Google Drive - Access and manage your Drive files

Pro Tips

Keep your API keys secure - Never commit your config file to version control

Start small - Get comfortable with one MCP server before adding more

Check the logs - If something's not working, Claude Code's debug output is your friend

Be specific with permissions - Only grant the access each MCP server actually needs

Wrapping Up

MCP transforms Claude Code from a powerful coding assistant into a comprehensive automation tool. Whether you're managing content in Notion, automating GitHub workflows, or building complex integrations, MCP opens up a world of possibilities.

The best part? This is just the beginning. As more MCP servers become available and the protocol evolves, Claude Code will only become more capable. So go ahead, set up MCP, and let Claude handle the boring stuff while you focus on what matters.

Happy coding! 🚀