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Exa MCP Server for Claude Code: Setup & Config

Exa MCP Server gives Claude Code web search and readable page retrieval, with optional advanced search and agent research tools.

Exa MCP Server Claude Code configuration

  1. Choose Claude Code configuration scope

    For Exa MCP Server, open Project scope: .mcp.json at the repository root. Project JSON: merge into mcpServers; user scope: use the CLI.

  2. Add Exa MCP Server to Claude Code

    Use the exa-mcp-server entry below in mcpServers. Keep Exa MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Code entries.

  3. Check Exa MCP Server in Claude Code

    Exa MCP Server: Inspect claude mcp list and /mcp status.

Config file · Project scope: .mcp.json at the repository root

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exa-mcp-server": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "exa-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "EXA_API_KEY": "<your Exa API key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

CLI (POSIX shell)
claude mcp add-json --scope project 'exa-mcp-server' '{"type":"stdio","command":"npx","args":["-y","exa-mcp-server"],"env":{"EXA_API_KEY":"<your Exa API key>"}}'

Exa in Claude Code: stdio checks

  • If Exa MCP Server fails to start, check npx exa-mcp-server (Node.js/npm), the working directory, and Claude Code's selected scope; inspect claude mcp list and /mcp.
  • Exa MCP Server: check EXA_API_KEY; keep credentials out of shared .mcp.json.
  • Exa MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Code must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
Tools
web_search_exa, web_fetch_exa, web_search_advanced_exa

Exa MCP Server — details. Claude Code guide

Frequently asked questions

Register Exa MCP Server with the displayed claude mcp add-json --scope project command, or merge the JSON into .mcp.json at the repository root.

Claude Code's exa-mcp-server example uses stdio.

Exa MCP Server's Claude Code configuration invokes npx exa-mcp-server (Node.js/npm).

Claude Code's Exa MCP Server example references EXA_API_KEY. Check these names if startup or authentication fails; the example alone does not distinguish required from optional values.

Exa MCP Server's stored list contains 7 tools, including web_search_exa, web_fetch_exa, web_search_advanced_exa. Compare those names with Claude Code's connected tool list; the stored list is not a live check.