store: MCP servers go in ~/.claude.json, NOT ~/.claude/.mcp.json

graph/configurations/mcp-servers-go-in-claudejson-not-claudemcpjson-d746c5.md

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+---
+id: d746c584-c625-4710-b2a7-bba205e2e92d
+type: configuration
+title: "MCP servers go in ~/.claude.json, NOT ~/.claude/.mcp.json"
+tags: [claude-code, mcp, configuration, troubleshooting]
+importance: 0.9
+confidence: 0.8
+created: "2026-03-02T02:14:27.994062+00:00"
+updated: "2026-03-02T02:14:27.994062+00:00"
+---
+
+## Claude Code MCP Server Configuration Location
+
+**Global MCP servers** must be defined in `~/.claude.json` under the top-level `mcpServers` key.
+
+`~/.claude/.mcp.json` is **NOT read by Claude Code** for global servers. Servers placed there will silently fail to register.
+
+### Correct locations:
+1. **Global (always-on):** `~/.claude.json` → `mcpServers` key (cognitive-memory, gitea-mcp, n8n-mcp, tui-driver)
+2. **Project (on-demand):** `<project-root>/.mcp.json` → `mcpServers` key
+
+### How to add a global MCP server:
+- Edit `~/.claude.json` and add to the `mcpServers` object, OR
+- Use `claude mcp add <name> -- <command> [args]`
+
+### Discovered 2026-03-01
+tui-driver was configured in `~/.claude/.mcp.json` and silently failed to load. Moving it to `~/.claude.json` fixed registration.