How do I set up the Brave Search MCP server?

Add the Brave Search server to your MCP config using the command: npx with the package @modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search. See the full config below.

What does the Brave Search MCP server do?

Web and local search powered by the Brave Search API.

Brave Search MCP Server — Config Template & Setup Guide

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "server-brave-search": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

Variable	Required	Description
`BRAVE_API_KEY`	✓ Required	Your Brave Search API key.

Setup Instructions

Ensure Node.js 18+ is installed on your system.
Copy the config block above into your claude_desktop_config.json file (typically at ~/.config/claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS/Linux or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows).
Set the BRAVE_API_KEY environment variable: Your Brave Search API key.
Restart your AI client to apply the config.

claude_desktop_config.json

Environment Variables

Setup Instructions

Related Servers