Claude Desktop Configuration

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 46 views

Introduction

Claude Desktop is a powerful tool for developers, allowing them to connect to various Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers and work with them seamlessly. However, some users may encounter issues while installing or using Claude Desktop. In this article, we will walk you through the troubleshooting process to resolve these issues.

Symptoms

You have installed the VSCode MCP Server extension and the mcp-proxy via the command npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-proxy --client claude. However, you are unable to connect to the MCP server properly. The mcp-proxy shows up in Claude Desktop as "running", but you receive an error message when trying to start the extension in VSCode.

Claude Desktop Configuration

To troubleshoot the issue, we need to examine the Claude Desktop configuration file, claude_desktop_config.json. This file contains the configuration settings for the MCP servers.

{
	"mcpServers": {
		"filesystem": {
			"command": "npx",
			"args": [
				"-y",
				"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
				"V:/"
			]
		},
		"jetbrains": {
			"command": "npx",
			"args": [
				"-y",
				"@jetbrains/mcp-proxy"
			]
		},
		"vscode": {
			"command": "mcp-proxy",
			"args": [
				"http://127.0.0.1:6010/sse"
			]
		},
		"mcp-proxy": {
			"command": "cmd",
			"args": [
				"/c",
				"npx",
				"-y",
				"@smithery/cli@latest",
				"run",
				"mcp-proxy",
				"--config",
				"\"{}\""
			]
		}
	}
}

MCP Server Logs

To further diagnose the issue, we need to examine the MCP server logs. The logs provide valuable information about the server's behavior and any errors that may have occurred.

2025-03-10T16:58:59.725Z [vscode] [info] Initializing server...
2025-03-10T16:58:59.777Z [vscode] [error] spawn mcp-proxy ENOENT {"context":"connection","stack":"Error: spawn mcp-proxy ENOENT\n    at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:285:19)\n    at onErrorNT (node:internal/child_process:483:16)\n    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)"}
2025-03-10T16:58:59.777Z [vscode] [error] spawn mcp-proxy ENOENT {"stack":"Error: spawn mcp-proxy ENOENT\n    at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:285:19)\n    at onErrorNT (node:internal/child_process:483:16)\n    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)"}
2025-03-10T16:58:59.779Z [vscode] [info] Server transport closed
2025-03-10T16:58:59.779Z [vscode] [info] Client transport closed
2025-03-10T16:58:59.779Z [vscode] [info] Server transport closed unexpectedly, this is likely due to the process exiting early. If you are developing this MCP server you can add output to stderr (i.e. `console.error('...')` in JavaScript, `print('...', file=sys.stderr)` in python) and it will appear in this log.
2025-03-10T16:58:59.779Z [vscode] [error] Server disconnected. For troubleshooting guidance, please visit our [debugging documentation](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/tools/debugging) {"context":"connection"}

Troubleshooting Steps

Based on the symptoms and the logs, we can identify the following potential causes:

ENOENT Error: The ENOENT error indicates that the mcp-proxy executable is not found. This could be due to a misconfigured PATH environment variable or a missing mcp-proxy installation.
Server Disconnection: The server disconnection error suggests that the MCP server is not running or is not properly configured.

To resolve these issues, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify MCP Proxy Installation

Ensure that the mcp-proxy is installed correctly by running the command npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-proxy --client claude. If the installation is successful, the mcp-proxy should be listed in the Claude Desktop configuration file.

Step 2: Check MCP Server Logs

Examine the MCP server logs to identify any errors or issues that may have occurred. The logs may provide valuable information about the server's behavior and any errors that may have occurred.

Step 3: Verify MCP Server Configuration

Verify that the MCP server is properly configured by checking the claude_desktop_config.json file. Ensure that the mcp-proxy section is correctly configured and that the command and args fields are set correctly.

Step 4: Restart MCP Server

Restart the MCP server by stopping and starting the mcp-proxy service. This may resolve any issues related to the server disconnection.

Step 5: Update MCP Server Extension

Update the MCP server extension in VSCode to the latest version. This may resolve any issues related to the ENOENT error.

Step 6: Reinstall MCP Proxy

Reinstall the mcp-proxy by running the command npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-proxy --client claude. This may resolve any issues related to the ENOENT error.

Conclusion

Q: What is the cause of the ENOENT error in the MCP server logs?

A: The ENOENT error in the MCP server logs indicates that the mcp-proxy executable is not found. This could be due to a misconfigured PATH environment variable or a missing mcp-proxy installation.

Q: How do I verify the MCP proxy installation?

A: To verify the MCP proxy installation, run the command npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-proxy --client claude. If the installation is successful, the mcp-proxy should be listed in the Claude Desktop configuration file.

Q: What should I do if I encounter a server disconnection error?

A: If you encounter a server disconnection error, try restarting the MCP server by stopping and starting the mcp-proxy service. This may resolve any issues related to the server disconnection.

Q: How do I update the MCP server extension in VSCode?

A: To update the MCP server extension in VSCode, follow these steps:

Open the Extensions panel in VSCode by clicking the Extensions icon in the left sidebar or pressing Ctrl + Shift + X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + X (macOS).
Search for the MCP server extension in the Extensions panel.
Click the Update button next to the MCP server extension to update it to the latest version.

Q: What should I do if I continue to experience issues after following the troubleshooting steps?

A: If you continue to experience issues after following the troubleshooting steps, consider seeking further assistance from the Claude Desktop community or support team. They may be able to provide additional guidance or assistance to resolve the issue.

Q: How do I reinstall the MCP proxy?

A: To reinstall the MCP proxy, run the command npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-proxy --client claude. This will reinstall the mcp-proxy and may resolve any issues related to the ENOENT error.

Q: What is the purpose of the `claude_desktop_config.json` file?

A: The claude_desktop_config.json file contains the configuration settings for the MCP servers. It is used to configure the MCP servers and ensure that they are properly set up.

Q: How do I verify the MCP server configuration?

A: To verify the MCP server configuration, examine the claude_desktop_config.json file and ensure that the mcp-proxy section is correctly configured and that the command and args fields are set correctly.

Q: What should I do if I encounter issues with the MCP server logs?

A: If you encounter issues with the MCP server logs, try examining the logs more closely to identify any errors or issues that may have occurred. You may also want to try restarting the MCP server or reinstalling the MCP proxy to resolve any issues.

Conclusion

We hope that this Q&A article has provided you with the information and guidance you need to troubleshoot issues with Claude Desktop. Remember to verify the MCP proxy installation, check the MCP server logs, verify the MCP server configuration, restart the MCP server, update the MCP server extension, and reinstall the MCP proxy as needed. If you continue to experience issues, consider seeking further assistance from the Claude Desktop community or support team.