How do I add an MCP server to Cline?

1. Open the MCP Servers pane in the Cline sidebar 2. Choose Configure MCP Servers 3. Add the server under mcpServers and save

Can Cline run a local MCP server?

Yes. It can start a local process and talk to it over stdio, so packaged servers work without any hosting.

Which parts of the protocol does Cline not support?

It does not implement prompts, sampling or elicitation. A server whose value is mostly in those features will feel incomplete here.

Does Cline need restarting after adding a server?

No, it picks up the change without a restart.

When was this setup information last checked?

These details were verified on 2026-07-15. Clients change their configuration format from time to time, so check the official documentation if something does not work.

Cline

VS Code extension with an in editor marketplace. Can install a server by reading its README.

IDE verified 2026-07-15

How to add a server to Cline

Open the MCP Servers pane in the Cline sidebar
Choose Configure MCP Servers
Add the server under mcpServers and save

Where the configuration lives

Global	cline_mcp_settings.json, reachable from the MCP Servers pane

Global

cline_mcp_settings.json, reachable from the MCP Servers pane

Local server configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "{{name}}": {
      "command": "{{command}}",
      "args": {{args}}{{envBlock}}
    }
  }
}

Hosted server configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "{{name}}": {
      "type": "streamableHttp",
      "url": "{{url}}"
    }
  }
}

Placeholders such as {{name}}, {{command}}, {{args}} and {{url}} are filled from each server's package or endpoint data.

Protocol support

Support is uneven across clients. A server that only exposes prompts is of no use in a client that does not implement them.

Transports
Transport	Supported
stdio	Yes
Streamable HTTP	Yes
SSE	Yes

Features
Feature	Supported
Tools	Yes
Resources	Yes
Prompts	No
Sampling	No
Roots	No
Elicitation	No
OAuth	Yes

Official Cline MCP documentation

Frequently asked questions

How do I add an MCP server to Cline?: 1. Open the MCP Servers pane in the Cline sidebar 2. Choose Configure MCP Servers 3. Add the server under mcpServers and save
Where is the Cline MCP configuration file?: global: cline_mcp_settings.json, reachable from the MCP Servers pane.
Can Cline run a local MCP server?: Yes. It can start a local process and talk to it over stdio, so packaged servers work without any hosting.
Which parts of the protocol does Cline not support?: It does not implement prompts, sampling or elicitation. A server whose value is mostly in those features will feel incomplete here.
Does Cline need restarting after adding a server?: No, it picks up the change without a restart.
When was this setup information last checked?: These details were verified on 2026-07-15. Clients change their configuration format from time to time, so check the official documentation if something does not work.

Other clients

Claude Desktop Claude Code Cursor Visual Studio Code Windsurf Zed