SETUP · AI · 5 MIN

Connect your first MCP to Claude Code

You ask Claude Code for something that lives in another service, like "find me this in my Notion", and suddenly it can do it. You didn't code the connection: you plugged in an MCP. That's how you give it new tools with one line.

For: anyone already using Claude Code who wants to extend its reach
Needs: Claude Code installed and an account on the service you're connecting
Time: 5 minutes

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, but forget the name. In practice, an MCP is a plug: it hands Claude Code a fresh set of tools from an outside service. Without an MCP, Claude works with your files and the terminal. With a Notion MCP, it can also read and write to your Notion. With one for your database, it can query it. You connect it once.

Connect a remote one (the easiest)

Remote MCPs are the simplest place to start: you install nothing, you just point at an address. The command is claude mcp add, you tell it the transport is http, give it a name, and paste the service URL. For Notion, say:

claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp

That registers the MCP, but you still haven't given it permission to reach your account. That's the next step.

Give it access to your account

Open Claude Code in a project and type /mcp. You'll see the server you just added; pick it and the browser opens so you can log into the service. Confirm, and it's connected.

/mcp

Check that it's connected

That same /mcp shows you the status: each server, whether it's connected, and how many tools it brings. From the terminal you can list them too:

claude mcp list
notion: connected

From there, ask it for something that uses the service, in plain language: "summarize my tasks page in Notion". Claude will reach for the MCP's tools on its own.

Just this project, or all of them?

By default, the MCP is available only in the project where you added it. If you want it in every project, add -s user (for "user", your account):

claude mcp add -s user --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp

Commands you'll use

claude mcp list. Lists every MCP you have and whether it's connected.
claude mcp get notion. Shows the details for a specific one.
claude mcp remove notion. Drops it when you no longer need it.

That's it. An MCP is how Claude Code stops being locked inside your folder and starts touching the tools you actually use. Notion was the example; the catalog is huge.

BUILT BY EDRA

I build websites, automations, and AI tools, and write up what I learn along the way.