Set up the local MCP server

For the full index of agent-friendly pages, see llms.txt.

With the local MCP server, you can connect your AI client to mabl’s testing tools, from creating and running tests locally to analyzing failures in cloud runs.

Warning: Note

Starting May 18, 2026, the local MCP server is deprecated and will no longer receive updates or support. We recommend migrating to the newer cloud-based mabl MCP server, which offers more tools and continued feature development. Learn more.

Prerequisite

To configure and use the mabl MCP, you must have an AI client installed on your system that supports MCP servers.

Setup

The mabl MCP is compatible with any AI client that supports MCP servers. For specific instructions on MCP setup, consult your AI client’s documentation. The following tabbed section provides guidance on how to configure the mabl MCP for specific clients.

Claude Desktop

Config

To add the mabl MCP server in Claude Desktop, open Claude Desktop Settings from your system’s menu bar: Claude > Settings…

claude_settings.png

Accessing settings in Claude

In the Settings window, click on the Developer tab. Click on Edit Config to open the configuration file for Claude Desktop. This action creates or opens the existing claude_desktop_config.json file. Depending on your OS, this file is located in one of the following locations:

Add the following JSON to configure the mabl MCP server.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mabl-local": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@mablhq/mabl-cli@latest", "mcp", "start"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Start the server

To confirm the mabl MCP server is installed, quit and restart Claude Desktop. When you click on the settings icon at the bottom of the conversation input box, you should see available mabl MCP tools.

mabl_mcp_tools_in_claude.png

Viewing mabl MCP tools in Claude Desktop

Troubleshooting

If setup wasn’t successful, follow these steps to troubleshoot:

Check Claude Desktop errors

On startup, Claude surfaces errors as toast messages. Click on the toast message to review the error and access logs from Developer Settings. Alternatively, you can access it from the Claude Desktop menu bar: Settings > Developer.

claude_dev_settings.png

Look for error messages containing “mabl” or “MCP”. Common issues include:

Verify your configuration

In your claude_desktop_config.json file, confirm that the path exists and is executable.

Check for conflicting Node versions

If you have multiple versions of Node installed, Claude may be choosing an unsupported version when it starts up the mabl MCP server. In this situation, try uninstalling all versions of Node and re-installing an LTS version.

For more details on managing MCP servers in Claude Desktop, refer to their official documentation.

VS Code

Before you start, make sure GitHub Copilot is enabled and you are signed into your GitHub account in VS Code.

Config

To install the mabl MCP in VS Code, visit the setup page and select one of the following options:

Alternatively, if you prefer to manually install the mabl MCP, use the following config block:

{
    "inputs": [],
    "servers": {
        "mabl-local": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "@mablhq/mabl-cli@latest",
                "mcp",
                "start"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Start the server

To start the mabl MCP server, click on the start button within the “servers” object.

vscode_mcp_setup_updated_command.png

Make sure the GitHub Copilot chat is set to “Agent” mode before you start using the mabl MCP.
For more details on managing MCP Servers in VS Code, refer to their official documentation.

Cursor

Config

To install the mabl MCP for your user profile in Cursor, visit the setup page and click on the Install button.

Alternatively, if you want to configure the mabl MCP for a specific project, such as a shared project, create a file named .cursor/mcp.json in the root of the project directory and add the following config block:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mabl-local": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "@mablhq/mabl-cli@latest",
                "mcp",
                "start"
            ]
        }
    }
}

After saving the file, Cursor should automatically detect the mabl MCP, and you can enable it.
For more details on managing MCP servers in Cursor, refer to their official documentation.

Other clients

Config

You can also connect from any AI client that supports MCP servers. Follow the client’s MCP documentation for setup, and use the following configuration when adding the mab MCP server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mabl-local": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@mablhq/mabl-cli@latest", "mcp", "start"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Authentication

Before you start using the mabl MCP, you need to be logged in with your user credentials in the mabl CLI. If you aren’t already authenticated in the mabl CLI, your AI client will walk you through how to do that.

Alternatively, you can manually authenticate from the terminal with the command mabl auth login.

Usage

With MCPs, you can carry out your tasks in a back-and-forth dialogue instead of using technical commands. In the AI chat, start sending natural language prompts to interact with the mabl MCP, such as:

Check out the article on mabl local MCP tools for a full list of supported actions.

Next steps