> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mainwp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Your AI Client

> Configuration for Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code Copilot, OpenAI Codex, ZenCoder, and other MCP hosts.

Every client below runs the same server the same way: `npx -y @mainwp/mcp` with your Dashboard URL, WordPress username, and [Application Password](/mcp-server/quickstart#before-you-start) in the environment. Only the config file location and format differ.

If you keep credentials in a central `~/.config/mainwp-mcp/settings.json` instead (see [Configuration Reference](/mcp-server/reference/configuration#configuration-file)), omit the `env` block in any of these examples.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Desktop">
    Edit the Claude Desktop configuration file:

    * **macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
    * **Windows**: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`

    Add the MainWP server to the `mcpServers` block (create the file if it does not exist):

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "mainwp": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"],
          "env": {
            "MAINWP_URL": "https://your-dashboard.com",
            "MAINWP_USER": "admin",
            "MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD": "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    Replace the URL with your Dashboard address, the username with the WordPress user that owns the Application Password, and the password with the one WordPress generated. Spaces in the password are fine either way, WordPress accepts it with or without them.

    Restart Claude Desktop after saving.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    Add the server with the CLI:

    ```bash theme={null}
    claude mcp add --transport stdio mainwp \
      --env MAINWP_URL=https://your-dashboard.com \
      --env MAINWP_USER=admin \
      --env MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD="xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx" \
      -- npx -y @mainwp/mcp
    ```

    With a central settings file, the short form works:

    ```bash theme={null}
    claude mcp add --transport stdio mainwp -- npx -y @mainwp/mcp
    ```

    You can also define the same server in `~/.claude.json`.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Cursor">
    Add to `.cursor/mcp.json` in your project, or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` globally:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "mainwp": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"],
          "env": {
            "MAINWP_URL": "https://your-dashboard.com",
            "MAINWP_USER": "admin",
            "MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD": "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    Cursor also supports `${env:VAR_NAME}` placeholders if you prefer referencing system environment variables.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="VS Code Copilot">
    Add to `.vscode/mcp.json` in your project (requires VS Code 1.101+ with Agent Mode):

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "servers": {
        "mainwp": {
          "type": "stdio",
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"],
          "env": {
            "MAINWP_URL": "https://your-dashboard.com",
            "MAINWP_USER": "admin",
            "MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD": "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    VS Code can prompt for the password at runtime so it is never stored in the file:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "inputs": [
        {
          "type": "promptString",
          "id": "mainwp_password",
          "description": "MainWP Application Password",
          "password": true
        }
      ],
      "servers": {
        "mainwp": {
          "type": "stdio",
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"],
          "env": {
            "MAINWP_URL": "https://your-dashboard.com",
            "MAINWP_USER": "admin",
            "MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD": "${input:mainwp_password}"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="OpenAI Codex">
    Add to `~/.codex/config.toml`:

    ```toml theme={null}
    [mcp_servers.mainwp]
    command = "npx"
    args = ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"]

    [mcp_servers.mainwp.env]
    MAINWP_URL = "https://your-dashboard.com"
    MAINWP_USER = "admin"
    MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD = "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx"
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="ZenCoder">
    In VS Code, add the server under `zencoder.mcpServers` in `settings.json`:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "zencoder.mcpServers": {
        "mainwp": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"],
          "env": {
            "MAINWP_URL": "https://your-dashboard.com",
            "MAINWP_USER": "admin",
            "MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD": "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    In JetBrains, go to **Settings → Tools → Zencoder → MCP Servers** and use the same JSON structure.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Other MCP hosts">
    Windsurf and most other MCP hosts use the same JSON pattern:

    * `command`: `npx`
    * `args`: `["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"]`
    * `env`: `MAINWP_URL`, `MAINWP_USER`, and `MAINWP_APP_PASSWORD`

    Check your host's documentation for where its MCP configuration lives.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Managing multiple Dashboards

Give each Dashboard its own folder with its own `settings.json`, then point each server entry at the right folder with `cwd`:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mainwp-production": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/production-credentials"
    },
    "mainwp-staging": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@mainwp/mcp"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/staging-credentials"
    }
  }
}
```

The server reads `./settings.json` from its working directory first, so each entry picks up its own credentials. Details in the [Configuration Reference](/mcp-server/reference/configuration#configuration-file).