Exa MCP Server for Windsurf: Setup & Config

What you can do with Exa in Windsurf

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.
• Run asynchronous enrichment or structured research through Exa Agent.

Before you start: Exa in Windsurf

• 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 Windsurf configuration

1. Choose Windsurf configuration scope

   For Exa MCP Server, open macOS/Linux: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json. Merge into mcpServers; remote endpoints use serverUrl.

2. Add Exa MCP Server to Windsurf

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

3. Check Exa MCP Server in Windsurf

   Exa MCP Server: Refresh MCP in Windsurf settings and inspect Cascade’s tools.

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

Exa tools available to Windsurf

Exa's stored tool list documents 7 tools; compare it with Windsurf's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

web_search_exa

After refreshing Exa in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for web_search_exa.

Search for relevant web sources and return readable result content.

web_fetch_exa

After refreshing Exa in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for web_fetch_exa.

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

web_search_advanced_exa

After refreshing Exa in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for web_search_advanced_exa.

agent_create_run

After refreshing Exa in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for agent_create_run.

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

agent_wait_for_run

After refreshing Exa in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for agent_wait_for_run.

agent_get_run_output

After refreshing Exa in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for agent_get_run_output.

agent_cancel_run

After refreshing Exa in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for agent_cancel_run.

Cancel an agent task that is queued or running.

Exa: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Exa in Windsurf

• Check npx exa-mcp-server (Node.js/npm) on the machine running Windsurf's MCP integration for Exa MCP Server; refresh MCP and inspect Cascade's tools.
• Check EXA_API_KEY for Exa MCP Server; do not bypass a Windsurf permission error with a broad administrator token.
• Exa MCP Server uses stdio here: Windsurf 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 Windsurf troubleshooting lives in the /clients/windsurf guide.

Frequently asked questions