LM Studio MCP Setup: Connect MCP Servers to LM Studio
What it is
A desktop app for discovering, downloading, and running local LLMs, with a chat UI and an OpenAI-compatible local server.
How MCP works in LM Studio
Since v0.3.17, LM Studio is an MCP client for local models. It follows Cursor's mcp.json notation and supports both local stdio servers and remote servers by URL.
Config file location
~/.lmstudio/mcp.json holds an mcpServers object; edit it via the Program tab > Install > Edit mcp.json.
Add your first server
A good first server is Playwright MCP — Microsoft's browser automation server. It runs locally over stdio via npx, needs no API key, and gives the agent a real browser to drive. Here is the verified LM Studio config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@playwright/mcp@latest"]
}
}
}Restart or reload LM Studio after saving, then confirm the server's tools show up. Swap in any other server from the directory using the same structure.
Transports & platforms
| Transports | stdio, SSE, Streamable HTTP |
|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| License | Proprietary |
| Vendor | LM Studio |
FAQ
Does LM Studio support MCP?
Yes. LM Studio works as an MCP client over stdio, SSE, Streamable HTTP. Since v0.3.17, LM Studio is an MCP client for local models. It follows Cursor's mcp.json notation and supports both local stdio servers and remote servers by URL.
Where is the LM Studio MCP config?
~/.lmstudio/mcp.json holds an mcpServers object; edit it via the Program tab > Install > Edit mcp.json. The verified example above shows the exact structure it expects.
Which MCP servers work with LM Studio?
Any server that speaks a transport LM Studio supports (stdio, SSE, Streamable HTTP). Browse the MCP server directory on this site to find databases, browser automation, API integrations, and dev tools, then add them using the config format above.