How do I install MCPB MCP Server?

Follow the setup instructions on the MCPB GitHub repository, then add the server configuration to your AI client.

What category is MCPB MCP Server?

MCPB is categorized under Developer Tools. Browse more servers in these categories on MCPgee.

MCPB

Name: Mcpb MCP Server
Author: modelcontextprotocol

v1.0.0•Developer Tools•stable

Desktop Extensions: One-click local MCP server installation in desktop apps

mcpbmcpai-integration

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What is MCPB?

MCPB is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to desktop extensions: one-click local mcp server installation in desktop apps

Desktop Extensions: One-click local MCP server installation in desktop apps

This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.

Features

Desktop Extensions: One-click local MCP server installation

Use Cases

Install MCP servers directly into desktop applications.

Enable one-click local MCP server setup for any desktop app.

modelcontextprotocol

Maintainer

LicenseNOASSERTION

Languagetypescript

Versionv1.0.0

UpdatedMay 21, 2026

Statushealthy

Maintenanceactive

Works with

ClaudeOpenAIwindowsmacoslinux

View Source Browse All Servers

Installation

Manual Installation

npx mcpb

Configuration

Configuration Details

Config File

claude_desktop_config.json

Performance

Response Metrics

Response Time< 200ms

ThroughputMedium

Resource Usage

Memory UsageLow

CPU UsageLow

How to Set Up and Use MCPB

MCPB (MCP Bundles) is a packaging and distribution format for local MCP servers that enables one-click installation in desktop applications such as Claude for macOS and Windows. A bundle is a .mcpb file — essentially a zip archive containing the server code and a manifest.json describing its capabilities — that desktop apps can open and install automatically, similar to browser extensions. The mcpb CLI tool provides 'mcpb init' and 'mcpb pack' commands to help developers bundle their servers for distribution.

Prerequisites

Node.js 18+ and npm installed
An existing local MCP server project using the @modelcontextprotocol/sdk
Claude Desktop for macOS or Windows (or another host app that supports .mcpb)
Global install of the @anthropic-ai/mcpb CLI tool
No external API keys required — bundles package local servers

Install the mcpb CLI globally

Install the @anthropic-ai/mcpb package globally so the mcpb command is available in any project directory.

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/mcpb

Navigate to your MCP server project

Go to the root of your existing MCP server project. The project should already have a valid package.json and implement the MCP protocol via the @modelcontextprotocol/sdk.

cd /path/to/your-mcp-server

Initialize the bundle manifest

Run 'mcpb init' to interactively generate a manifest.json file describing your server, its entry point, and its capabilities. Fill in the prompts about your server name and tools.

mcpb init

Pack the bundle

Run 'mcpb pack' to create the .mcpb archive from the current directory. The file is output to the current directory by default.

mcpb pack

Install the bundle in Claude Desktop

Double-click the generated .mcpb file (or open it from within Claude Desktop) to trigger the one-click installation flow. Claude will prompt for confirmation before installing the local server.

MCPB Examples

Client configuration

After installing a .mcpb bundle through Claude Desktop, the server is registered automatically. You can also register the server manually in claude_desktop_config.json if needed.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-bundled-server": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/installed/bundle/server.js"]
    }
  }
}

Prompts to try

After installing a bundle, the tools it exposes become available in Claude Desktop.

- "List all the tools available from the installed bundle"
- "Run the main tool exposed by my custom MCP server"
- "What MCP servers are currently installed and active?"

Troubleshooting MCPB

mcpb command not found after installing

Run 'npm install -g @anthropic-ai/mcpb' again and verify with 'which mcpb'. If npm global bin is not on PATH, add it: run 'npm config get prefix' to find the directory and add its 'bin' subdirectory to your PATH.

Opening the .mcpb file does nothing on macOS

Claude Desktop must be installed and associated with .mcpb files. Update to the latest version of Claude Desktop, which includes bundle support. Right-click the file and choose Open With > Claude.

mcpb pack fails with a missing manifest error

Run 'mcpb init' first to generate the required manifest.json in the project root. Verify the file exists and contains at least the server name and entry point fields before re-running 'mcpb pack'.

Frequently Asked Questions about MCPB

What is MCPB?

MCPB is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that desktop extensions: one-click local mcp server installation in desktop apps It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.

How do I install MCPB?

Follow the installation instructions on the MCPB GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.

Which AI clients work with MCPB?

MCPB works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.

Is MCPB free to use?

Yes, MCPB is open source and available under the NOASSERTION license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.

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Browse More Developer Tools MCP Servers

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Set Up MCPB in Your Editor

Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.

🖥️

Claude Desktop

macOS & Windows app

⌨️

Claude Code

CLI & terminal

📝

Cursor

AI-first code editor

💻

VS Code

GitHub Copilot MCP

🏄

Windsurf

Codeium AI editor

🔌

Cline

VS Code extension

Quick Config Preview

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcpb": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcpb"]
    }
  }
}

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json

Read the full setup guide →

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