> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stratta.ch/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install in Claude Desktop

> Add the Stratta MCP server to the Claude Desktop app.

You can use Stratta in the [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/download) app by adding the
server to its config file. Because the desktop config can't prompt you interactively, save your
key with the CLI first.

## Requirements

* Claude Desktop installed.
* [Node.js](https://nodejs.org) **20 or newer**.
* A Stratta [API key](/en/guides/get-api-key).

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Save your key once">
    In a terminal, run the login command and paste your key when prompted. It's stored in
    `~/.stratta/config.json` (owner-only).

    ```bash theme={null}
    npx -y @stratta/mcp login
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit the Claude Desktop config">
    Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**, then add the Stratta server — no key needed in
    the file, since it reads the one you just saved:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "stratta": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@stratta/mcp"]
        }
      }
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart Claude Desktop">
    Quit and reopen the app. The Stratta tools appear in the MCP indicator.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Keeping the key in the config instead

Prefer to keep the key in the config file rather than `~/.stratta/config.json`? Add an `env`
block:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "stratta": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@stratta/mcp"],
      "env": { "STRATTA_API_KEY": "sk_strt_xxx" }
    }
  }
}
```

<Warning>
  This stores the key in plaintext in the config file. Keep that file private and don't sync it
  to a shared location.
</Warning>

## A note on figures

When you ask about a figure, Claude retrieves the image and includes a link to view it
full-size. **Claude Desktop does not render remote images inline** — you'll see a clickable
placeholder/link rather than the picture in the message body. This is a current limitation of
the desktop client, not of Stratta. See [Troubleshooting](/en/resources/troubleshooting#figures-do-not-display-inline).

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Ask your first question" icon="comments" href="/en/guides/ask-your-first-question">
    Get the most out of Stratta.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting" icon="wrench" href="/en/resources/troubleshooting">
    Fix common setup issues.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>