QGISMCP for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

What you can do with QGISMCP in Claude Desktop

A live QGIS bridge spanning layer operations, processing algorithms, custom code, and map output.

• Create and save GIS projects through Claude.
• Load vector and raster layers and inspect their contents.

Before you start: QGISMCP in Claude Desktop

• QGIS 3.x; README testing was limited to 3.22
• Python 3.10 or later
• uv
• Claude Desktop
• The enabled QGIS MCP plugin and its running socket server

Replace the documented absolute-path placeholder with the checkout location. Copy qgis_mcp_plugin into the active profile's plugins directory, restart QGIS, enable it, then use its Start Server action. No required environment variables are stated.

QGISMCP Claude Desktop configuration

1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

   For QGISMCP, 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 QGISMCP to Claude Desktop

   Use the qgis_mcp entry below in mcpServers. Keep QGISMCP's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Desktop entries.

3. Check QGISMCP in Claude Desktop

   QGISMCP: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "qgis_mcp": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/PARENT/REPO/FOLDER/qgis_mcp/src/qgis_mcp",
        "run",
        "qgis_mcp_server.py"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

QGISMCP tools available to Claude Desktop

QGISMCP's stored tool list documents 15 tools; compare it with Claude Desktop's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

ping

When Claude Desktop requests ping from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Check connectivity with the QGIS plugin server.

get_qgis_info

When Claude Desktop requests get_qgis_info from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Inspect details of the running QGIS installation.

load_project

When Claude Desktop requests load_project from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Open a project from a supplied filesystem path.

create_new_project

When Claude Desktop requests create_new_project from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Create and save a new QGIS project.

get_project_info

When Claude Desktop requests get_project_info from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Inspect information about the active project.

add_vector_layer

When Claude Desktop requests add_vector_layer from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Load vector data as a project layer.

add_raster_layer

When Claude Desktop requests add_raster_layer from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Load raster data as a project layer.

get_layers

When Claude Desktop requests get_layers from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

Enumerate layers in the active project.

remove_layer

When Claude Desktop requests remove_layer from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

zoom_to_layer

When Claude Desktop requests zoom_to_layer from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

get_layer_features

When Claude Desktop requests get_layer_features from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

execute_processing

When Claude Desktop requests execute_processing from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

save_project

When Claude Desktop requests save_project from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

render_map

When Claude Desktop requests render_map from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

execute_code

When Claude Desktop requests execute_code from QGISMCP, review the action before approving it.

QGISMCP: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting QGISMCP in Claude Desktop

• Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for QGISMCP. If uv is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
• QGISMCP uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Requires manual plugin installation and starting its server in QGIS.
• Known limitation: The README reports testing only on QGIS 3.22.
• Known limitation: Arbitrary Python execution carries an explicit caution in the README.
• General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

Frequently asked questions