How do I add an MCP server to Goose?

1. Run goose configure 2. Choose Add Extension, then Command line Extension 3. Enter the command and any environment variables

Can Goose 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 Goose not support?

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

Does Goose 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.

Goose

Open source agent from Block, available as a desktop app and a CLI. Servers are added as extensions.

Desktop app verified 2026-07-15

How to add a server to Goose

Run goose configure
Choose Add Extension, then Command line Extension
Enter the command and any environment variables

Where the configuration lives

Global	~/.config/goose/config.yaml

Global

~/.config/goose/config.yaml

Local server configuration

extensions:
  {{name}}:
    type: stdio
    cmd: {{command}}
    args: {{argsYaml}}
    enabled: true

Hosted server configuration

extensions:
  {{name}}:
    type: streamable_http
    uri: {{url}}
    enabled: true

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	Yes
Sampling	No
Roots	No
Elicitation	No
OAuth	No

Official Goose MCP documentation

Frequently asked questions

How do I add an MCP server to Goose?: 1. Run goose configure 2. Choose Add Extension, then Command line Extension 3. Enter the command and any environment variables
Where is the Goose MCP configuration file?: global: ~/.config/goose/config.yaml.
Can Goose 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 Goose not support?: It does not implement sampling or elicitation. A server whose value is mostly in those features will feel incomplete here.
Does Goose 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 Cline Windsurf