episode: MCP server user-scope config: ~/.claude.json + one-time /mcp enable

episodes/2026-02-20.md

@@ -199,3 +199,7 @@ Files edited (3):
 - **Memory:** [homelab-session-debugging-901268](graph/fixes/homelab-session-debugging-901268.md)
 - **Summary:** Errors encountered (1):
   - The user doesn't want to proceed with this tool use. The tool use was
+
+## 11:30 - MCP server user-scope config: ~/.claude.json + one-time /mcp enable
+- **Type:** configuration
+- **Tags:** claude-code, mcp, configuration, n8n

graph/configurations/mcp-server-user-scope-config-claudejson-one-time-mcp-enable-a24884.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+id: a2488459-bc9e-4005-969c-44eef486ebc2
+type: configuration
+title: "MCP server user-scope config: ~/.claude.json + one-time /mcp enable"
+tags: [claude-code, mcp, configuration, n8n]
+importance: 0.7
+confidence: 0.8
+created: "2026-02-20T17:30:17.952797+00:00"
+updated: "2026-02-20T17:30:17.952797+00:00"
+---
+
+## Adding User-Scope MCP Servers in Claude Code
+
+### Correct Location
+- **User MCP servers go in `~/.claude.json`** under the `mcpServers` key
+- NOT in `~/.claude/settings.json` (that `mcpServers` key doesn't work)
+- NOT in `~/.claude/.mcp.json` (legacy location, still works for cognitive-memory but being phased out)
+
+### Activation Flow
+1. Add server config to `~/.claude.json` → `mcpServers` → `server-name`
+2. Start a new Claude Code session → server shows as **disabled** in `/mcp`
+3. Open `/mcp` menu, select the server, press Enter to enable
+4. Server persists as **connected** across all future sessions automatically
+
+### Settings.json MCP Fields
+- `enableAllProjectMcpServers` — only for **project-level** `.mcp.json` servers
+- `enabledMcpjsonServers` — only for **project-level** `.mcp.json` servers
+- Neither affects user-scoped servers in `~/.claude.json`
+
+### Example Config (~/.claude.json)
+```json
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "cognitive-memory": {
+      "command": "python3",
+      "args": ["/home/cal/.claude/skills/cognitive-memory/mcp_server.py"]
+    },
+    "n8n-mcp": {
+      "command": "npx",
+      "args": ["n8n-mcp"],
+      "env": {
+        "MCP_MODE": "stdio",
+        "N8N_API_URL": "http://10.10.0.210:5678",
+        "N8N_API_KEY": "<from ~/.claude/secrets/n8n_api_key>"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```