Joplin
Model Context Protocol server for Joplin notes — Go, official MCP SDK.
What is Joplin?
Joplin is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to model context protocol server for joplin notes — go, official mcp sdk.
Model Context Protocol server for Joplin notes — Go, official MCP SDK.
This server falls under the Knowledge & Memory category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Model Context Protocol server for Joplin notes — Go, officia
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y joplinManual Installation
npx -y joplinConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Joplin
Joplin MCP Server connects AI assistants to a Joplin note collection through the official MCP Go SDK, exposing 11 tools for reading, creating, editing, deleting, and searching notes and notebooks. It operates in two modes: a sidecar mode that bundles and manages its own Joplin Terminal process with automatic port negotiation alongside Joplin Desktop, and an external mode that connects to an already-running Joplin instance. Knowledge workers use it to give Claude persistent access to their note library, enabling AI-assisted research, summarization, and cross-session note management.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later (for the npx install path)
- A Joplin API token — found in Joplin Desktop under Tools > Options > Web Clipper, or generated by the bundled terminal process
- Joplin Desktop or Joplin Terminal installed if using external mode
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
Get your Joplin API token
Open Joplin Desktop, go to Tools > Options > Web Clipper, enable the Web Clipper service, and copy the authorization token. This token is used for all API calls from the MCP server.
Add the server to your MCP client configuration
Add the Joplin MCP server to your client config, passing the API token as an environment variable. In sidecar mode (the default, when JOPLIN_HOST/JOPLIN_PORT are not set), the server manages its own Joplin Terminal process.
{
"mcpServers": {
"joplin": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "joplin-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"JOPLIN_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
}
}
}
}Or run in external mode against an existing Joplin instance
If Joplin Desktop is already running with the Web Clipper enabled on its default port (41184), point the MCP server at it using JOPLIN_HOST and JOPLIN_PORT.
{
"mcpServers": {
"joplin": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "joplin-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"JOPLIN_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
"JOPLIN_HOST": "localhost",
"JOPLIN_PORT": "41184"
}
}
}
}Configure sync (optional)
Set JOPLIN_SYNC_TARGET to enable syncing notes to a backend. Supported targets include WebDAV, Nextcloud, Joplin Cloud, S3, Dropbox, and OneDrive. Add the corresponding username and password environment variables.
Restart your MCP client and verify
Restart Claude Desktop or your MCP client. Ask it to list your notebooks — a successful response confirms the server is connected and authenticated.
Joplin Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop config for Joplin MCP Server in external mode connecting to a running Joplin Desktop instance.
{
"mcpServers": {
"joplin": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "joplin-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"JOPLIN_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
"JOPLIN_HOST": "localhost",
"JOPLIN_PORT": "41184"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts for managing Joplin notes through the MCP server.
- "List all my notebooks and the number of notes in each."
- "Search my notes for anything related to 'project planning' and summarize the key points."
- "Create a new note titled 'Meeting Notes 2026-06-13' in my Work notebook."
- "Read the note titled 'Architecture Decisions' and suggest improvements."
- "Sync my notes and confirm the last sync time."Troubleshooting Joplin
Authentication fails with 'Invalid token' errors
Ensure the JOPLIN_TOKEN value matches the token shown in Joplin Desktop under Tools > Options > Web Clipper. Tokens are long random strings; check for accidental truncation or extra spaces in your config.
Sidecar mode cannot find an available port
The sidecar scans ports 41184–41193 for an available slot. If all ports in this range are in use, close other Joplin instances or services occupying these ports. You can also switch to external mode and point at a specific port.
Notes created by the MCP server do not appear in Joplin Desktop
In sidecar mode, the server manages a separate Joplin Terminal process. Run the sync tool via the MCP server, or manually trigger a sync in Joplin Desktop, to propagate changes between the two instances.
Frequently Asked Questions about Joplin
What is Joplin?
Joplin is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that model context protocol server for joplin notes — go, official mcp sdk. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Joplin?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y joplin. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with Joplin?
Joplin works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Joplin free to use?
Yes, Joplin is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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