latest version of Claude desktop still fails to connect with npx on Windows

[jalenzz]

I'm using the latest version of Claude desktop on Windows, but also have the same problem at #40

In #40, after most people updated to the latest version, everything seemed to work well, but I still have the problem. 😭

The config file is right, setting looks ok, no error show in logs.

{
    "globalShortcut": "Shift+Ctrl+Space",
    "mcpServers": {
        "github": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"
            ],
            "env": {
                "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "xxx"
            }
        },
        "brave-search": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"
            ],
            "env": {
                "BRAVE_API_KEY": "xxx"
            }
        },
        "sequential-thinking": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
            ]
        },
        "memory": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory"
            ]
        },
        "puppeteer": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-puppeteer"
            ]
        }
    }
}

2024-12-13T07:03:24.438Z [info] Attempting to connect to MCP server github...
2024-12-13T07:03:24.441Z [info] Attempting to connect to MCP server brave-search...
2024-12-13T07:03:24.442Z [info] Attempting to connect to MCP server sequential-thinking...
2024-12-13T07:03:24.442Z [info] Attempting to connect to MCP server memory...
2024-12-13T07:03:24.442Z [info] Attempting to connect to MCP server puppeteer...
2024-12-13T07:03:24.485Z [info] Connected to MCP server github!
2024-12-13T07:03:24.496Z [info] Connected to MCP server brave-search!
2024-12-13T07:03:24.502Z [info] Connected to MCP server memory!
2024-12-13T07:03:24.510Z [info] Connected to MCP server sequential-thinking!
2024-12-13T07:03:24.516Z [info] Connected to MCP server puppeteer!

But no MCP icon show in claude desktop, and it show could not attach to MCP server

I tried restarting the app many times before. Sometimes it would be normal, but today I tried restarting it a great many times and there was no effect.

---

OS Version: Windows 11 23H2
Node version: v22.12.0
npx version: 10.9.0
Claude desktop: latest version

[jspahrsummers]

Are you using NVM, by chance? There's a separate issue with that, I'm afraid.

[andybrandt]

You can't use npx on Windows, you have to download the package using npm install -g <> then configure like this:

      "memory": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe",
      "args": [
        "C:\\Users\\YOUR_USER_DIR\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@modelcontextprotocol\\server-memory\\dist\\index.js"
      ]
    }

[jalenzz]

Are you using NVM, by chance? There's a separate issue with that, I'm afraid.

no nvm, just normal nodejs.

Actually I install nodejs by scoop, which install node in a non-default location.
But I have tried install nodejs by download the .msi provided by the official website, the problem still exists.

[jalenzz]

You can't use npx on Windows, you have to download the package using npm install -g <> then configure like this:

      "memory": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe",
      "args": [
        "C:\\Users\\YOUR_USER_DIR\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@modelcontextprotocol\\server-memory\\dist\\index.js"
      ]
    }

I'm now forced to use this method to make it works. But npx should work, I saw it discussed in #40 and it seems to have been fixed!

[jspahrsummers]

Are you using NVM, by chance? There's unfortunately a separate issue with that.

[jalenzz]

Are you using NVM, by chance? There's unfortunately a separate issue with that.

same question #333 (comment)

I'm not using nvm