Add the LanceDB MCP server to Claude Code

Config last verified Jun 1, 2026

The exact config to run LanceDB in Claude Code — paste it in, restart, and the tools load.

Prerequisites

  • Claude Code installed.

Setup

1. Open ~/.claude.json

2. Add this configuration

Add to ~/.claude.json

~/.claude.json
json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lancedb": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "lance-mcp",
        "PATH_TO_LOCAL_INDEX_DIR"
      ]
    }
  }
}
Or via CLI
bash
claude mcp add lancedb -- npx lance-mcp PATH_TO_LOCAL_INDEX_DIR

3. Restart Claude Code and confirm the LanceDB tools load.

Gotchas

Claude Code stores MCP servers under an "mcpServers" object in ~/.claude.json. It also reads a project-scoped .mcp.json and supports adding servers from the command line with "claude mcp add". Each entry must declare either a "type" or a "command"; Claude Code refuses an entry that has neither. Remote servers connect natively over Streamable HTTP with OAuth.

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