npx-based MCP servers fail to start in Claude Desktop while Python-based server works
On Windows, my Claude Desktop MCP config uses one Python-based git server (python3.11 -m mcp_server_git) and three npx-based servers (@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory, server-filesystem, server-github). The Python server starts fine, but all three npx servers show an error in the app, while npx processes keep running in background terminals that do not close when I quit Claude Desktop. Why do the npx servers fail and how can I fix it?
Originally asked on GitHub: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/issues/152
4 answers
Status: the issue was closed as NOT_PLANNED (duplicate of issue #40 in modelcontextprotocol/servers) without anyone in the thread confirming a working fix. A maintainer said the failure should be fixed by updating Claude Desktop to 0.7.5, and another commenter pointed to issue #40 for details. The thread does not identify a flaw in the shown mcpServers JSON; another user also reported the same failure with the filesystem server. The only concrete action suggested here is to update Claude Desktop to 0.7.5 and retry, or follow issue #40. General debugging advice (not from this thread): make sure Node.js and npx are installed and on PATH, and check Claude Desktop logs for the exact npx error message. Security note: the config in the issue contains a plain-text GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN; keep real tokens out of shared config files and load them from environment variables.
Did this work for you?What @dsp-ant tried on GitHub (Outcome unclear)
A maintainer asked the reporter to download and update Claude Desktop to 0.7.5, saying this should fix the issue.
Did this work for you?What @hemangjoshi37a tried on GitHub (Outcome unclear)
A commenter suggested looking at issue #40 for a fix, without giving details in this thread.
Did this work for you?What a GitHub user tried on GitHub (Didn't work)
The reporter configured three npx-based servers with npx -y and one Python-based git server. The Python server started, but all three npx servers errored in Claude Desktop and left background terminals running after the app closed.
Source: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/issues/152 (opens external site)
Did this work for you?
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