Minecraft MCP Server for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

What you can do with Minecraft in Claude Desktop

A focused Mineflayer-backed MCP bridge for hands-on assistant interaction with a Minecraft world.

• Direct an assistant-controlled character around a LAN world.
• Place and dig blocks during an assisted building session.

Before you start: Minecraft in Claude Desktop

• Git
• Node.js 20.10.0 or later
• A running compatible Minecraft game with a reachable world
• An MCP-compatible client

The README opens a single-player world to LAN and configures the bot's host and port to match. Its current support notice names Minecraft 1.21.11, while the setup walkthrough mentions testing Java Edition 1.21.8. Restart the desktop client fully after configuration. No required environment variables are stated.

Minecraft Claude Desktop configuration

1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

   For Minecraft 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 Minecraft MCP Server to Claude Desktop

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

3. Check Minecraft MCP Server in Claude Desktop

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "minecraft-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "github:yuniko-software/minecraft-mcp-server",
        "--host",
        "localhost",
        "--port",
        "25565",
        "--username",
        "ClaudeBot"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Minecraft tools available to Claude Desktop

Minecraft's stored tool list documents 18 tools; compare it with Claude Desktop's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

get-position

When Claude Desktop requests get-position from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Read the bot's current coordinates.

move-to-position

When Claude Desktop requests move-to-position from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Move the bot toward specified coordinates.

look-at

When Claude Desktop requests look-at from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Aim the bot's view at a selected position.

jump

When Claude Desktop requests jump from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Make the bot perform a jump.

move-in-direction

When Claude Desktop requests move-in-direction from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Move in a chosen direction for a specified duration.

fly-to

When Claude Desktop requests fly-to from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Fly directly toward a target position.

list-inventory

When Claude Desktop requests list-inventory from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Inspect items currently carried by the bot.

find-item

When Claude Desktop requests find-item from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Locate a particular item in the bot's inventory.

equip-item

When Claude Desktop requests equip-item from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Equip a selected inventory item.

place-block

When Claude Desktop requests place-block from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

dig-block

When Claude Desktop requests dig-block from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

get-block-info

When Claude Desktop requests get-block-info from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

find-blocks

When Claude Desktop requests find-blocks from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

smelt-item

When Claude Desktop requests smelt-item from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

find-entity

When Claude Desktop requests find-entity from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

send-chat

When Claude Desktop requests send-chat from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

read-chat

When Claude Desktop requests read-chat from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

detect-gamemode

When Claude Desktop requests detect-gamemode from Minecraft, review the action before approving it.

Minecraft: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Minecraft in Claude Desktop

• Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for Minecraft MCP Server. If npx (Node.js/npm) is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
• Minecraft MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Requires a running game and a reachable world.
• Known limitation: The compatibility notice warns that versions newer than 1.21.11 may not work.
• Known limitation: Desktop client startup can take time.
• General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

Frequently asked questions