Set up Docker MCP in Claude Desktop

Manage Docker containers, images, volumes, and networks. Run, stop, inspect, and monitor containers from your AI editor.

Locate the config file

Claude Desktop reads MCP server configuration from the following file:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Create this file if it does not already exist.

Add the following to your Claude Desktop config file:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docker-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "docker-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

No environment variables needed. Docker MCP works out of the box without any API keys or tokens.

Restart Claude Desktop. Docker MCP should appear in your MCP server list with 14 tools available.

This server adds approximately 7,210 tokens to your context window for tool definitions.