Fetcher MCP for Claude Code: Setup & Config

What you can do with Fetcher in Claude Code

Pick it for browser-rendered content extraction with parallel fetching and practical debugging controls.

• Read content from JavaScript-rendered web pages.
• Use a visible browser to log in before retrieving authenticated content.

Before you start: Fetcher in Claude Code

• Node.js and npx
• Playwright Chromium
• An MCP-compatible client

The README first installs the browser with npx playwright install chromium. The browser_install tool can also resolve missing-browser errors. An HTTP launch alternative exposes /mcp and /sse. No required environment variables are stated.

Fetcher Claude Code configuration

1. Choose Claude Code configuration scope

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

2. Add Fetcher MCP to Claude Code

   Use the fetcher-mcp entry below in mcpServers. Keep Fetcher MCP's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Code entries.

3. Check Fetcher MCP in Claude Code

   Fetcher MCP: Inspect claude mcp list and /mcp status.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fetcher-mcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "fetcher-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

claude mcp add-json --scope project 'fetcher-mcp' '{"type":"stdio","command":"npx","args":["-y","fetcher-mcp"],"env":{}}'

Fetcher tools available to Claude Code

Fetcher's stored tool list documents 3 tools; compare it with Claude Code's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

fetch_url

For Fetcher's fetch_url, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

Load one URL in Playwright and return extracted or full page content.

fetch_urls

For Fetcher's fetch_urls, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

browser_install

For Fetcher's browser_install, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

Install Chromium for Playwright, with optional system dependencies or forced reinstallation.

Fetcher: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Fetcher in Claude Code

• If Fetcher MCP fails to start, check npx fetcher-mcp (Node.js/npm), the working directory, and Claude Code's selected scope; inspect claude mcp list and /mcp.
• Fetcher MCP uses stdio here: Claude Code must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Needs a Playwright Chromium binary and associated runtime dependencies.
• Known limitation: Verification-heavy pages may require manual interaction or timeout tuning.
• Known limitation: Default resource blocking changes what the browser loads.
• General Claude Code troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-code guide.

Frequently asked questions