Add and manage MCP servers
Last updated Apr 6, 2026
MCP servers extend what your agents can do by providing additional tools — things like searching the web, querying a database, or interacting with an external API. Once a server is connected, its tools become available to your agents.
The MCP Servers screen works differently depending on whether you're connected to a cloud desktop or running locally.
Local mode vs cloud desktop mode
When you're running locally (no cloud desktop connected), the MCP Servers screen shows your local servers — the ones configured in your OpenClaw installation on this machine. You can add, start, stop, and remove servers directly.
When you're connected to a cloud desktop, the screen shows your workspace's cloud MCP servers instead. Three tabs help you filter what you see:
| Tab | What it shows |
|---|---|
| All | Every MCP server available in your workspace |
| Deployed | Servers currently deployed to the connected cloud desktop |
| Undeployed | Workspace servers not yet deployed to the connected instance |
When connected to a cloud desktop, you can add and remove MCP servers directly from the desktop app — changes are applied to the connected instance via the cloud API. The workspace-level MCP server catalog is managed in MultiClaw Cloud.
Add a local MCP server
- Select MCP Servers from the sidebar.
- Click Add Server.
- Enter a Name for the server.
- Enter the Command — the executable to run, for example
npx,node, orpython. - Enter the Arguments — space-separated arguments to pass to the command, for example
-y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /tmp. - Click Add Server.
The server appears in your list. A status indicator shows whether it connected successfully.
Any credentials or API keys you pass as arguments are stored in your OpenClaw configuration file. You can also add servers by editing ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json directly. The desktop app reflects any changes the next time it loads.
When you connect a remote MCP server, your agent sends tool call requests — including task context — to that server's operator. This is subject to the operator's own privacy policy and terms of service. Only connect MCP servers from providers you trust.
View tools a server provides
Click the server entry to expand it. You'll see every tool the server exposes. These tools are available to any agent that runs while the server is connected.
Stop or restart a server
To temporarily stop a server, click Stop on its card. Its tools will no longer be available until you start it again. To reconnect, click Start.
If a server shows an Error or Stopped status, click Start on its card to reconnect.
If a server keeps failing to connect, check that the command and arguments are correct.
Remove a server
Select the server and click Delete. This removes the server and all its tools from the app. Agents that were using those tools will no longer have access to them.