MongoDB MCP

How to Install and Use MongoDB MCP

MongoDB MCP is a tool that helps you work with MongoDB databases and MongoDB Atlas. It acts as a server for different clients to connect and interact with your MongoDB data safely. Here’s a simple guide to install and use it with examples.

Prerequisites for MongoDB MCP

Before you install MongoDB MCP, make sure you have everything ready. First, you need Node.js installed on your computer. The recommended versions are at least 20.19.0 or newer. You can check your Node.js version by typing this command in your terminal:

node -v

Also, you must have either a MongoDB connection string or MongoDB Atlas API credentials. The server won’t start without these. You can find how to get Atlas API credentials in the MongoDB Atlas dashboard by creating a service account with the right permissions.

Quick Start Setup of MongoDB MCP

Once the prerequisites are done, you can start setting up MongoDB MCP. Here are easy ways to do it:

Option 1: Using MongoDB Connection String

You can run MongoDB MCP by passing your connection string as an environment variable. For example, add your connection string with the username and password as shown below:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "MongoDB": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mongodb-mcp-server@latest", "--readOnly"],
      "env": {
        "MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING": "mongodb://localhost:27017/myDatabase"
      }
    }
  }
}

This will start the MCP server and connect it to your MongoDB database. The --readOnly flag makes sure the server only allows safe, read-only access.

Option 2: Using Atlas API Credentials

Alternatively, if you use MongoDB Atlas, you can use your API service account credentials. Set the client ID and secret as environment variables:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "MongoDB": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mongodb-mcp-server@latest", "--readOnly"],
      "env": {
        "MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_ID": "your-atlas-service-accounts-client-id",
        "MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_SECRET": "your-atlas-service-accounts-client-secret"
      }
    }
  }
}

You need to create these credentials in the Atlas UI by adding a service account with minimal permissions.

Option 3: Running Standalone with Environment Variables

You can also start MongoDB MCP from the command line by exporting your credentials first, then starting the server like this:

export MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_ID="your-atlas-service-accounts-client-id"
export MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_SECRET="your-atlas-service-accounts-client-secret"

npx -y mongodb-mcp-server@latest --readOnly

This method is simple and uses environment variables to keep your secrets safe.

Using Docker to Run MongoDB MCP

If you prefer Docker, you don’t need Node.js installed. Just run the following commands:

For a connection string:

export MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING="mongodb+srv://username:[email protected]/myDatabase"

docker run --rm -i \
  -e MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING \
  -e MDB_MCP_READ_ONLY="true" \
  mongodb/mongodb-mcp-server:latest

For Atlas API credentials:

export MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_ID="your-atlas-service-accounts-client-id"
export MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_SECRET="your-atlas-service-accounts-client-secret"

docker run --rm -i \
  -e MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_ID \
  -e MDB_MCP_API_CLIENT_SECRET \
  -e MDB_MCP_READ_ONLY="true" \
  mongodb/mongodb-mcp-server:latest

This keeps your environment clean and isolated.

Starting MongoDB MCP as an HTTP Server

MongoDB MCP can also run as an HTTP server. This is useful if you want to access it over the web or within a network. To start it with HTTP transport, run:

npx -y mongodb-mcp-server@latest --transport=http

By default, it listens on http://127.0.0.1:3000. You can change the host and port like this:

npx -y mongodb-mcp-server@latest --transport=http --httpHost=0.0.0.0 --httpPort=8080

Remember to add proper security if you expose it over the internet.

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This guide helps you get started with MongoDB MCP quickly and securely, using connection strings, Atlas API credentials, or Docker. Use environment variables to keep your credentials safe, and choose the setup that fits your needs.