Memory Bank MCP Server for Cursor: Setup & Config

What you can do with Memory Bank in Cursor

Choose it for straightforward, project-isolated memory files shared with an MCP coding assistant.

• Find and read an existing project's context files.
• Create or revise memory-bank documents through an MCP client.

Before you start: Memory Bank in Cursor

• Node.js and npx
• An MCP-compatible client
• A configured memory-bank storage directory

This follows the README's Claude configuration. Set the storage root to your directory. Docker is an alternative and requires a host-volume mapping. Review any client auto-approval settings separately from the server launch.

Memory Bank Cursor configuration

1. Choose Cursor configuration scope

   For Memory Bank MCP Server, open Project: .cursor/mcp.json User: ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Merge into mcpServers at project or user scope.

2. Add Memory Bank MCP Server to Cursor

   Use the memory-bank-mcp entry below in mcpServers. Keep Memory Bank MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Cursor entries.

3. Check Memory Bank MCP Server in Cursor

   Memory Bank MCP Server: Enable in Cursor’s MCP settings; inspect tools.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "memory-bank-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@allpepper/memory-bank-mcp@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MEMORY_BANK_ROOT": "<directory that will hold project memory banks>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Memory Bank tools available to Cursor

Memory Bank's stored tool list documents 5 tools; compare it with Cursor's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

memory_bank_read

Find memory_bank_read under Memory Bank in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Read a file from a selected project's memory bank.

memory_bank_write

Find memory_bank_write under Memory Bank in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

memory_bank_update

Find memory_bank_update under Memory Bank in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

list_projects

Find list_projects under Memory Bank in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Discover projects stored beneath the memory-bank root.

list_project_files

Find list_project_files under Memory Bank in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Enumerate the memory files belonging to one project.

Memory Bank: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Memory Bank in Cursor

• Cursor must find npx @allpepper/memory-bank-mcp@latest (Node.js/npm) for Memory Bank MCP Server. Enable the project/user entry in MCP settings and inspect its tools.
• Review MEMORY_BANK_ROOT for Memory Bank MCP Server before sharing project .cursor/mcp.json; project scope travels with the repository.
• Memory Bank MCP Server uses stdio here: Cursor must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Requires choosing and maintaining a storage directory.
• Known limitation: The documented interface does not include semantic-search tools.
• Known limitation: Sample client settings can auto-approve writes and should be reviewed.
• General Cursor troubleshooting lives in the /clients/cursor guide.

Frequently asked questions