Claude Desktop · MCP
Add Brave Search to Claude Desktop
Give Claude live web search via the Brave Search API.
One-click installs
claude mcp add-json brave-search '{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"],"env":{"BRAVE_API_KEY":"your_brave_api_key"}}'The Cursor button installs it instantly; the command does the same for Claude Code. Fill in the placeholder API key afterwards.
Claude Desktop config (manual)
{
"mcpServers": {
"brave-search": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"
],
"env": {
"BRAVE_API_KEY": "your_brave_api_key"
}
}
}
}›Get a free API key at brave.com/search/api.
How to add it
01
Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config.
02
Paste the block below into claude_desktop_config.json (merge it into "mcpServers" if you already have some).
03
Fill in any placeholder values (paths, API keys).
04
Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop. The server’s tools appear in the 🔌 menu.
The linked repo is the source of truth — if the package name ever changes, it’ll be current there.