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Exa MCP Server for VS Code: Setup & Config

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

Exa MCP Server VS Code configuration

  1. Choose VS Code configuration scope

    For Exa MCP Server, open Workspace: .vscode/mcp.json. Merge into servers; preserve existing inputs.

  2. Add Exa MCP Server to VS Code

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

  3. Check Exa MCP Server in VS Code

    Exa MCP Server: Start in VS Code’s MCP controls; inspect output and trust prompts.

Config file · Workspace: .vscode/mcp.json

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

Exa in VS Code: stdio checks

  • Make npx exa-mcp-server (Node.js/npm) available in the workspace, container, or remote environment hosting Exa MCP Server. Start through VS Code's MCP controls; inspect output and trust prompts.
  • For Exa MCP Server, keep EXA_API_KEY out of version control; VS Code documents input variables and secret handling.
  • Exa MCP Server uses stdio here: VS 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. VS Code guide

Frequently asked questions

For Exa MCP Server, edit workspace .vscode/mcp.json. VS Code requires servers rather than mcpServers; preserve the displayed type on each entry.

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

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

VS 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 VS Code's connected tool list; the stored list is not a live check.