How to add MCP servers to Cline
Cline is an open-source coding agent for VS Code and other editors, with a CLI too. MCP servers are kept in cline_mcp_settings.json and managed from the MCP Servers panel.
Add an MCP server to Cline
- 1Open the MCP Servers view, then Configure → Configure MCP Servers to open
cline_mcp_settings.json. - 2Paste the server under
mcpServers. - 3Remote servers need
"type": "streamableHttp"; without it Cline assumes legacy SSE.
Example: Codebase Memory
{
"mcpServers": {
"codebase-memory-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"codebase-memory-mcp"
]
}
}
}Remote server type and auto-approve
- Remote entries need
"type": "streamableHttp"; without it Cline uses the older SSE transport. autoApprovelists tools that run without asking; keep it to read-only tools.- The CLI keeps servers in
~/.cline/data/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json, or whereverCLINE_MCP_SETTINGS_PATHpoints. - Servers can be added from the command line with
cline mcp addand removed withcline mcp remove.
Where Cline keeps MCP servers
cline_mcp_settings.jsonConfigure MCP Servers~/.cline/data/settings/cline_mcp_settings.jsonCLI
Check it loaded: MCP Servers → Installed
Limits and settings
- Remote servers need
"type": "streamableHttp"; without a type, Cline assumes legacy SSE. autoApprovelists tools that run without asking; keep it to safe tools.- Request timeouts can be raised per server.
When a server does not work in Cline
- Connection fails: check the command or URL.
- Auth errors: check the API keys or tokens in the config.
- Timeouts: raise the MCP timeout for that server.
- Unresponsive server: restart it from the MCP Servers panel.
Cline MCP questions
How do I add an MCP server to Cline?
Open the MCP Servers panel, then Configure → Configure MCP Servers, and add an entry under mcpServers. Remote servers can also be added on the Remote Servers tab.
Where is the Cline MCP config in the CLI?
~/.cline/data/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json, or the path in CLINE_MCP_SETTINGS_PATH.
Why does my remote server not connect?
Make sure the entry has "type": "streamableHttp". Without it, Cline tries the legacy SSE transport.
Can Cline run tools without asking?
Yes, for tools listed in autoApprove. Keep that list short.
Popular MCP servers for Cline
- 1
Provides a local knowledge graph that connects source code, documentation, and infrastructure to give AI agents structural context.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "codebase-memory-mcp": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "codebase-memory-mcp" ] } } } - 2
Securely execute LLM-generated code in isolated containers or local Linux and Windows sandboxes across multiple programming languages.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "llm-sandbox": { "command": "uvx", "args": [ "llm-sandbox" ] } } } - 3
Lets an AI client create, inspect, validate, and save editable 3D building scenes, including walls, rooms, doors, and furnishings.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "editor": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@pascal-app/mcp" ] } } } - 4
Lets AI agents search, run, and read results from thousands of web scraping and automation Actors on Apify Store.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "apify-mcp-server": { "type": "streamableHttp", "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/" } } } - 5
Provides AST-based semantic code search for local repositories using incremental re-indexing and natural language queries.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "cocoindex-code": { "command": "uvx", "args": [ "cocoindex-code" ] } } } - 6
Lets an AI client read and change Google Ads, Reddit Ads and GA4 campaigns, with a preview shown before every change.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "adloop": { "command": "uvx", "args": [ "adloop" ] } } } - 7
An agent meta-harness that provides Claude Code and Codex with specialized agent swarms, self-learning memory, and enterprise security guardrails.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "claude-flow": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "claude-flow" ] } } } - 8
Enables LLMs to interact with web pages through structured accessibility snapshots using Playwright browser automation.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "playwright-mcp": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@playwright/mcp" ] } } } - 9
Allows an AI client to interact with Bitbucket Data Center repositories and code through the Model Context Protocol.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "atlassian-dc-mcp": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@atlassian-dc-mcp/bitbucket" ] } } } - 10
Lets an AI agent draw and edit draw.io diagrams on a live browser canvas that you can also edit by hand.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "next-ai-drawio": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@next-ai-drawio/mcp-server" ] } } } - 11
Packs a local or remote codebase into a single AI-friendly file with token counts so LLMs and coding agents can read or search it.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "repomix": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "repomix" ] } } } - 12
Connects AI agents and IDEs to enterprise databases using prebuilt tools or a custom framework for secure, structured queries.
Config for Cline
cline_mcp_settings.json{ "mcpServers": { "mcp-toolbox": { "command": "docker", "args": [ "run", "-i", "--rm", "us-central1-docker.pkg.dev/database-toolbox/toolbox/toolbox:1.17.0" ] } } }
