---
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: "2026-03-02T02:14:29.458261+00:00"
relations:
  - target: d746c584-c625-4710-b2a7-bba205e2e92d
    type: RELATED_TO
    direction: incoming
    strength: 0.87
    edge_id: afaa906e-805f-4e2e-8b52-0ac2659cfe54
---

## 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>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```