Claude Config Management
Manages configuration files for Claude Desktop and Claude Code, including MCP server setup, project settings, and developer options.
Configuration File Locations
Claude Desktop (macOS):
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Config: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
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Logs: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/
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Developer settings: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/developer_settings.json
Claude Desktop (Windows):
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Config: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
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Logs: %APPDATA%\Claude\Logs\
Claude Code (Project-specific):
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Settings: .claude/settings.json
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Plugin marketplace: .claude-plugin/marketplace.json
Claude Desktop Configuration
Basic Structure
{ "mcpServers": { "server-name": { "command": "command-to-run", "args": ["arg1", "arg2"], "env": { "VAR_NAME": "value" } } } }
Important Notes
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Always use absolute paths - Working directory may be undefined
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Windows paths: Use forward slashes or double backslashes
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Restart required: Restart Claude Desktop after configuration changes
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Environment variables: Limited by default (USER, HOME, PATH); set explicitly in env
Claude Code Project Settings
.claude/settings.json
{ "enabledPlugins": ["plugin-name"], "extraKnownMarketplaces": { "team-tools": { "source": { "source": "github", "repo": "company/claude-plugins" } } } }
Team Configuration
Automatically install marketplaces when team members trust the folder:
{ "extraKnownMarketplaces": { "company-tools": { "source": { "source": "github", "repo": "company/plugins" } }, "project-tools": { "source": { "source": "git", "url": "https://git.company.com/project-plugins.git" } } } }
Quick Validation
Validate JSON syntax
jq empty ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json jq empty .claude/settings.json
Check server names
jq -r '.mcpServers | keys[]' ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Quick Troubleshooting
If MCP server not loading:
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Validate JSON syntax
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Verify command paths are absolute
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Check environment variables are set
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Review logs: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log
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Restart Claude Desktop
References
Detailed documentation for specific scenarios:
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MCP Patterns - Server configuration examples (Python, Node.js, environment variables)
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Troubleshooting - Common issues, log locations, debugging tools
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Workflows - Step-by-step guides for adding servers, team setup, migration
Next Steps
- See EXAMPLES.md for real-world configuration examples