---
title: Set up a Claude Desktop MCP client
slug: pbpb0442
canonical_url: https://docs.coveo.com/en/pbpb0442/
collection: leverage-machine-learning
source_format: adoc
---
# Set up a Claude Desktop MCP client
This article describes how to set up a Claude Desktop MCP client to connect to your Coveo Hosted MCP Server.
Once the MCP client is set up, you can start a chat session in Claude Desktop and quickly benefit from the tools available in your Hosted MCP Server.

> **Tip**
>
> Claude Desktop Free plan only supports local (stdio) MCP servers.
> To connect to the Hosted MCP Server, use the [mcp-remote](https://www.npmjs.com/package/mcp-remote) npm package.
> This allows Claude Desktop to start the node server locally and proxy call the remote server.

## Prerequisites

* You [configured](https://docs.coveo.com/en/q1mb0212/) a Hosted MCP Server in your [Coveo organization](https://docs.coveo.com/en/185/).

* You have the [API key](https://docs.coveo.com/en/q1mb0212#authentication-methods) of your Hosted MCP Server configuration on hand.

* You know the [endpoint](https://docs.coveo.com/en/q1mb0212#details-section) of your Hosted MCP Server configuration.

## Procedure

To set up a Claude Desktop MCP client

. In Claude Desktop, go to **Settings** > **Developer** > **Edit Config**.

. Add the following code snippet to the JSON configuration file:

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "coveo": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "<MCP_SERVER_ENDPOINT>",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: ${AUTH_TOKEN}"
            ],
            "env": {
                "AUTH_TOKEN": "Bearer <API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```

Where:

* `<MCP_SERVER_ENDPOINT>` is the [endpoint](https://docs.coveo.com/en/q1mb0212#details-section) of your Hosted MCP Server configuration.

* `<API_KEY>` is the [API key](https://docs.coveo.com/en/q1mb0212#authentication-methods) of your Hosted MCP Server configuration.

. Save the JSON configuration file to apply your changes.

. Restart Claude Desktop to apply your changes.

The **Local MCP servers** window now displays your Hosted MCP Server configuration.

. Start a new chat session in Claude Desktop to leverage your Hosted MCP Server tools.