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Basic Memory for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

Claude Desktop: Basic Memory gives AI clients persistent knowledge stored as Markdown that people can also edit.

What you can do with Basic Memory in Claude Desktop

Persistent AI knowledge in editable Markdown, with local ownership and optional cloud teamwork.

  • Keep architecture decisions available across AI sessions.
  • Search notes by meaning rather than exact wording.

Before you start: Basic Memory in Claude Desktop

  • Python 3.12+
  • uv / uvx
  • An MCP-compatible client

This is the local client configuration from the README. Notes default to ~/basic-memory. Optional cloud onboarding is separate; no cloud MCP endpoint is specified in the supplied README.

Basic Memory Claude Desktop configuration

  1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

    For Basic Memory, open macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Merge under mcpServers via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

  2. Add Basic Memory to Claude Desktop

    Use the basic-memory entry below in mcpServers. Keep Basic Memory's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Desktop entries.

  3. Check Basic Memory in Claude Desktop

    Basic Memory: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

Config file · macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "basic-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "basic-memory",
        "mcp"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Basic Memory tools available to Claude Desktop

Basic Memory's stored tool list documents 7 tools; compare it with Claude Desktop's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

search

When Claude Desktop requests search from Basic Memory, review the action before approving it.

Search knowledge through the documented ChatGPT-compatible action interface.

fetch

When Claude Desktop requests fetch from Basic Memory, review the action before approving it.

Retrieve knowledge through the documented ChatGPT-compatible action interface.

schema_infer

When Claude Desktop requests schema_infer from Basic Memory, review the action before approving it.

Infer the structure of a knowledge base.

schema_validate

When Claude Desktop requests schema_validate from Basic Memory, review the action before approving it.

Check knowledge against its schema.

schema_diff

When Claude Desktop requests schema_diff from Basic Memory, review the action before approving it.

edit_note

When Claude Desktop requests edit_note from Basic Memory, review the action before approving it.

write_note

When Claude Desktop requests write_note from Basic Memory, review the action before approving it.

Basic Memory: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Basic Memory in Claude Desktop

  • Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for Basic Memory. If uvx basic-memory (from uv, for Python tools) is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
  • Basic Memory uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
  • Known limitation: Local users manage their own backups and cross-device sync.
  • Known limitation: Cloud hosting is a paid option.
  • Known limitation: The local install requires Python.
  • General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

Basic Memory — details. Claude Desktop guide

Frequently asked questions

Claude Desktop loads Basic Memory from claude_desktop_config.json: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/ on macOS, or %APPDATA%\Claude\ on Windows. Open it via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

Claude Desktop's basic-memory example uses stdio.

Basic Memory's Claude Desktop configuration invokes uvx basic-memory (from uv, for Python tools).

Basic Memory's stored list contains 7 tools, including search, fetch, schema_infer. Compare those names with Claude Desktop's connected tool list; the stored list is not a live check.

No. The local engine is free and supports offline, air-gapped use.

The README gives ~/basic-memory as the default location.

Yes. Obsidian can open the same Markdown directory and use its wikilinks and frontmatter.