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description: "Get started with MCP in less than 5 minutes"
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Give Claude desktop superpowers by connecting it to your local computer! This guide will show you how to set up Model Context Protocol (MCP) and experience its magic in just 5 minutes.
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<Notetype="warning">
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MCP is currently in developer preview and only supports connecting to local servers running on your machine. Remote connections are not yet supported. This feature is only available in the Claude Desktop app, not the Claude web interface (claude.ai).
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</Note>
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<Note>
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MCP connects Claude to external data sources and tools. In this guide, we'll give Claude the ability to:
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- Take screenshots and analyze them
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- Control window arrangement
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- Execute local automation scripts
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Give the Claude Desktop app the ability to interact with local data sources and tools! This guide will show you how to set up Model Context Protocol (MCP) and experience its capabilities in just 5 minutes.
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And it does this all securely - Claude can only access what you explicitly allow through MCP servers.
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</Note>
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MCP is a protocol that enables secure connections between the Claude Desktop app and local services. In this quickstart guide, you'll learn how to:
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- Set up a local SQLite database
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- Connect Claude Desktop to it through MCP
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- Query and analyze your data securely
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## How MCP Works
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MCP enables secure, controlled interactions between the Claude Desktop app and local services through a well-defined protocol:
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```mermaid
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flowchart LR
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subgraph "Your Computer"
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CD[Claude Desktop]
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MCP[MCP Server]
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DB[(SQLite DB)]
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CD <-->|MCP Protocol| MCP
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MCP <-->|Local Access| DB
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end
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style CD fill:#e1e1e1
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style MCP fill:#d4e6ff
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style DB fill:#d4ffe1
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```
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1.**MCP Servers**: Small programs that expose specific capabilities (like database access) through a standardized interface
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2.**Protocol**: A structured way for Claude Desktop to:
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- Discover available capabilities
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- Request actions securely
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- Receive results and updates
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3.**Local Only**: All communication happens entirely on your machine - no data leaves your computer
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## Prerequisites
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- macOS (Windows/Linux guides coming soon)
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- Node.js v18 or higher (`node --version` to check)
@@ -233,3 +289,7 @@ Want to give Claude even more superpowers? Add these servers to your configurati
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[Join us →](/community)
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</Card>
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</CardGroup>
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<Note>
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Remember: MCP is in developer preview and currently only supports local servers. The examples and capabilities shown here are only available in the Claude Desktop app, not the Claude web interface.
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