MCP Setup Guide for Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) lets you connect your CivicAi chatbot as a knowledgebase inside tools like Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf.

This guide help you through two main parts:

1. Setting up MCP inside CivicAi

2. Connecting it with your tool (Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf)

1. Configure MCP in CivicAi

Before connecting with any tool, you must activate the MCP server from your CivicAi dashboard.

Step 1: Open the MCP Integration

1. Go to CivicAi Dashboard:

2. Then Integrations → MCP (Model Context Protocol)

3. Click Configure.

Step 2: Create MCP Server

Click on Create MCP to generate your chatbot’s MCP configuration.

Step 3: Select Your Target Tool

After the server is created, you’ll see a configuration screen with tool-specific tabs for:

• Claude Desktop

• Cursor

• Windsurf

Each tab gives you a JSON block to copy, along with instructions on where to place it.

Part 2: Connect MCP with Your Tool

Now that your chatbot is MCP-ready, here’s how to connect it with each tool.

2.1 Claude Desktop

Step 1: Open Claude Settings

Click Claude in your menu bar and select Settings.

Step 2: Enable Developer Mode

From the settings sidebar, go to Developer and click Edit Config.

Step 3: Locate Configuration File

On macOS, go to:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

If it’s not there, relaunch Claude or check permissions.

Step 4: Add Your MCP Configuration

Open the config file in any text editor or IDE, and paste the code provided in CivicAi.

Paste the configuration block provided by CivicAi. It should look like this:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "civicai_mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.civicai.se/sse",
        "--header",
        "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Step 5: Restart Claude and Confirm

Save your changes, Restart Claude Desktop.

If MCP is working correctly, you’ll see a hammer icon in the bottom-right corner.

2.2 Cursor Setup

Cursor setup is much simpler.

1. Look for Cursor Settings, then click on MCP, the add new global MCP server

2. Locate or create the file:

~/.cursor/mcp.json

3. Paste your MCP config JSON into this file.

4. Save and restart Cursor.

5. Test Your MCP.

2.3 Windsurf Setup

For Windsurf, follow the same approach.

Step 1: Locate the MCP Config File

~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

Step 2: Paste Your Configuration

Use the config you got from CivicAi. It should look like this:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ycivicai_mcp": {
        "command":"npx",
        "args": [
            "mcp-remote",
            "https://mcp.civicai.se/sse",
            "--header",
            "Authorization: Bearer YourKEY"
        ]
    }
  }
}

Paste it into mcp_config.json using your editor.

Step 3: Refresh Windsurf MCP & Test

Open Windsurf and look for the MCP section in the right panel. Click on Refresh.

Once it connects, your AI will appear under “available MCP servers”.

Additional Notes

• Keep your Bearer token private.

• You can remove and regenerate your MCP config from the CivicAi dashboard at any time.

• Each chatbot in CivicAi can have its own MCP setup.