Exa MCP Server for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

What you can do with Exa in Claude Desktop

Start with focused search and page retrieval, then enable deeper filtering or agent research as needed.

• Search for current facts and retrieve readable source content.
• Fetch complete pages when search snippets are insufficient.
• Find code examples and library documentation for a programming question.

Before you start: Exa in Claude Desktop

• An MCP-compatible client
• npx and an Exa API key for the local npm option

The command uses the README's local npm package configuration. The remote URL supports direct HTTP connections; mcp-remote is another documented route. Enable optional tools through the tools parameter.

Exa Claude Desktop configuration

1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

   For Exa MCP Server, 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 Exa MCP Server to Claude Desktop

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

3. Check Exa MCP Server in Claude Desktop

   Exa MCP Server: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

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

Exa tools available to Claude Desktop

Exa'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.

web_search_exa

When Claude Desktop requests web_search_exa from Exa, review the action before approving it.

Search for relevant web sources and return readable result content.

web_fetch_exa

When Claude Desktop requests web_fetch_exa from Exa, review the action before approving it.

Retrieve clean full-page content and metadata from one or more known URLs.

web_search_advanced_exa

When Claude Desktop requests web_search_advanced_exa from Exa, review the action before approving it.

Run optional advanced searches with domain, date, filter, and content controls.

agent_create_run

When Claude Desktop requests agent_create_run from Exa, review the action before approving it.

Start optional asynchronous research, enrichment, or structured-output work.

agent_wait_for_run

When Claude Desktop requests agent_wait_for_run from Exa, review the action before approving it.

agent_get_run_output

When Claude Desktop requests agent_get_run_output from Exa, review the action before approving it.

agent_cancel_run

When Claude Desktop requests agent_cancel_run from Exa, review the action before approving it.

Exa: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Exa in Claude Desktop

• Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for Exa MCP Server. If npx exa-mcp-server (Node.js/npm) is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
• In Claude Desktop's Exa MCP Server entry, check EXA_API_KEY. Keep secrets out of shared screenshots and repositories.
• Exa MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Advanced search is not enabled by default.
• Known limitation: Optional Exa Agent tools require OAuth or an API key.
• Known limitation: Several older tool names are deprecated.
• General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

Frequently asked questions