OpenMemory
Simple standalone MCP server giving Claude the ability to remember your conversations and learn from them over time.
What is OpenMemory?
OpenMemory is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to simple standalone mcp server giving claude the ability to remember your conversations and learn from them over time.
Simple standalone MCP server giving Claude the ability to remember your conversations and learn from them over time.
This server falls under the Knowledge & Memory category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Simple standalone MCP server giving Claude the ability to re
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-openmemoryConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use OpenMemory
MCP OpenMemory is a standalone MCP server that gives Claude persistent memory across conversations by storing and retrieving messages in a local SQLite database. It exposes tools for saving memories, recalling an abstract summary of past conversations, updating that summary, and fetching recent conversation history. Unlike built-in context windows, OpenMemory persists state between separate Claude Desktop sessions — making it useful for users who want Claude to remember personal preferences, ongoing projects, and past decisions without re-explaining context every time.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18+ installed on your system
- Claude Desktop (latest version) as your MCP client
- A writable directory for the SQLite memory database file
- npx available (comes with npm, which ships with Node.js)
Choose a persistent storage location
Decide where the SQLite database file will live. Use an absolute path in a stable location — if you change this path later, previous memories will not be found.
# Example path on macOS:
# /Users/you/mcp-memory.sqlite
# Example path on Linux:
# /home/you/.local/share/mcp-memory.sqliteConfigure Claude Desktop
Add the mcp-openmemory server to your Claude Desktop configuration file. On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-openmemory": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@peakmojo/mcp-openmemory@latest"],
"env": {
"MEMORY_DB_PATH": "/Users/you/mcp-memory.sqlite"
}
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop completely
Fully quit Claude Desktop (not just close the window) and relaunch it. This is required for the new MCP server to be loaded.
Verify the tools are available
Click the hammer icon (tools) in the Claude Desktop chat input bar. You should see save_memory, recall_memory_abstract, update_memory_abstract, and get_recent_memories listed.
Save your first memory
Ask Claude to save something to memory. This creates the SQLite database file at your configured MEMORY_DB_PATH.
OpenMemory Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration with MEMORY_DB_PATH set to a persistent location.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-openmemory": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@peakmojo/mcp-openmemory@latest"],
"env": {
"MEMORY_DB_PATH": "/Users/you/mcp-memory.sqlite"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Once connected, use these prompts to save and retrieve memories across sessions.
- "Remember that I prefer TypeScript over JavaScript and use VS Code as my editor"
- "What do you remember about my coding preferences from previous conversations?"
- "Save a memory that my current project is a REST API using Fastify and PostgreSQL"
- "Show me the most recent things we discussed in previous sessions"
- "Update your memory summary to include that I switched to Neovim last week"Troubleshooting OpenMemory
Tools don't appear in Claude Desktop after configuration
Fully quit Claude Desktop (Cmd+Q on macOS, not just closing the window) and relaunch it. If still missing, validate the JSON in your config file — a trailing comma or missing brace will silently prevent MCP servers from loading.
Memories are lost after restarting Claude Desktop
This happens when MEMORY_DB_PATH is not set or uses a relative path. Set it to an absolute path like /Users/you/mcp-memory.sqlite. Relative paths resolve differently depending on how the process is started and may point to a temporary directory.
npx @peakmojo/mcp-openmemory fails with package not found
Run 'npm cache clean --force' and retry. If the package still cannot be found, test manually in a terminal: 'npx @peakmojo/mcp-openmemory@latest' — this will show the exact npm error. Ensure your npm registry is accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions about OpenMemory
What is OpenMemory?
OpenMemory is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that simple standalone mcp server giving claude the ability to remember your conversations and learn from them over time. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install OpenMemory?
Follow the installation instructions on the OpenMemory GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with OpenMemory?
OpenMemory works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is OpenMemory free to use?
Yes, OpenMemory is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
OpenMemory Alternatives — Similar Knowledge & Memory Servers
Looking for alternatives to OpenMemory? Here are other popular knowledge & memory servers you can use with Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
MemPalace
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Kratos
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Context Mode
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Memu
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MemOS
★ 9.3kMemOS (Memory Operating System) is a memory management operating system designed for AI applications. Its goal is: to enable your AI system to have long-term memory like a human, not only remembering what users have said but also actively invoking, u
Everos
★ 5.4kBuild, evaluate, and integrate long-term memory for self-evolving agents.
Browse More Knowledge & Memory MCP Servers
Explore all knowledge & memory servers available in the MCPgee directory. Each server includes setup guides for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Set Up OpenMemory in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
Ready to use OpenMemory?
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