This page covers configuring MCP servers within Private AI for your coding agents. For connecting external MCP clients to Private AI’s MCP server, see the Private AI MCP Server guide.

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Overview

MCP servers provide additional functionality to coding agents through standardized protocols. You can configure different MCP servers for each coding agent in Private AI, giving them access to specialized tools like browser automation, access to remote logs, error tracking via Sentry, or documentation from Notion.

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Accessing MCP Server Configuration

  1. Navigate to Settings in the Private AI interface
  2. Click on MCP Servers in the settings menu
  3. Select the coding agent you want to configure MCP servers for
MCP Server configuration page showing available servers and one-click installation options
Private AI provides one-click installation for popular MCP servers.
Popular MCP servers available for one-click installation

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Adding Custom MCP Servers

You can also add your own MCP servers by configuring them manually:
1

Select Coding Agent

Choose the coding agent you want to configure MCP servers for from the MCP Servers settings page.
2

Update Server Configuration JSON

In the Server Configuration JSON field displayed in the UI, add your custom MCP server configuration. The JSON will show the current configuration for the selected agent, and you can modify it to include additional servers.Example addition:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "existing_server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "some-existing-server"]
    },
    "my_custom_server": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/my-server.js"]
    }
  }
}
3

Save and Test

After updating the JSON configuration:
  1. Click “Save Settings” to apply changes
  2. Test the configuration by using the agent with MCP functionality
  3. Check agent logs for any connection issues
These changes update the global configuration file of the coding agent and will persist even if you stop using Private AI.

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Best Practices

Server Selection: Choose MCP servers that complement your coding agent’s primary function. For example, use Playwright for agents focused on web development.
Limit MCP Servers: Avoid adding too many MCP servers to a single coding agent. Too many servers and tools will degrade the effectiveness of coding agents by overwhelming them with options.

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Next Steps