How to Install MCP in Cursor IDE

The manual way: mcp.json

Cursor reads MCP servers from ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global, all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json inside a project (shared with the team via git). You can also get there through the UI: Cursor Settings → MCP → Add new global MCP server — it opens the same file. The format matches Claude Desktop: mcpServers, command, args, env. After saving, reload the window (Cmd+Shift+P → Reload Window) and check that the server’s dot is green in Settings → MCP.

// ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (per project)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgres": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres", "postgresql://localhost/db"]
    }
  }
}

Troubleshooting

A red or yellow dot next to the server in Settings → MCP means it failed to start: hover it for the error. The usual causes are Node.js missing from PATH, a typo in the package name, or a server that needs an API key you have not set in env. Remote (HTTP/SSE) servers use a url field instead of command. Note that Cursor caps the number of tools exposed to the model — if you run many servers at once, disable the ones you are not using.