Postman MCP

How to Install and Use Postman MCP

Postman MCP is a tool that connects Postman to AI tools, allowing you to manage collections, workspaces, environments, and generate client code using natural language. This guide will walk you through how to install and start using Postman MCP quickly, with clear steps and real examples.

Installing the Remote Postman MCP Server

The easiest way to get started is by using the remote Postman MCP server hosted by Postman. This server works over HTTP and doesn’t require you to install anything on your computer. You only need a valid Postman API key.

Here’s how to install it in different environments:

In Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

To set up the remote server in VS Code:

1. Use the install button or install the Postman VS Code extension.
2. The server runs in Minimal mode by default. If you want Full or Code mode, change the url value.

Example configuration (.vscode/mcp.json):

{
  "servers": {
    "postman-api-http-server": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.postman.com/minimal",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  },
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "postman-api-key",
      "type": "promptString",
      "description": "Enter your Postman API key"
    }
  ]
}

To use Full mode, change the URL to https://mcp.postman.com/mcp. For Code mode, use https://mcp.postman.com/code instead.

In Cursor Editor

To install the remote Postman MCP server in Cursor:

• Click the install button on the Postman MCP listing.
• Make sure your Authorization header uses the format: Bearer <YOUR_API_KEY>.

By default, Cursor uses the Minimal mode.

To switch modes, edit the url in the mcp.json file as you do in VS Code.

In Claude Code Terminal

Open your terminal and run one of the following commands with your API key:

• Minimal mode:

claude mcp add --transport http postman https://mcp.postman.com/minimal --header "Authorization: Bearer <POSTMAN_API_KEY>"

• Code mode:

claude mcp add --transport http postman https://mcp.postman.com/code --header "Authorization: Bearer <POSTMAN_API_KEY>"

• Full mode:

claude mcp add --transport http postman https://mcp.postman.com/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer <POSTMAN_API_KEY>"

Installing the Local Postman MCP Server

If your setup does not allow remote MCP servers, you can install Postman MCP locally on your machine. You will need Node.js installed first.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

In Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

You can run the local server using npx. Follow these steps:

1. Click the install button or create a .vscode/mcp.json file.
2. Use this example configuration for Full mode:

{
  "servers": {
    "postman-api-mcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@postman/postman-mcp-server",
        "--full",
        "--region", "us"
      ],
      "env": {
        "POSTMAN_API_KEY": "${input:postman-api-key}"
      }
    }
  },
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "postman-api-key",
      "type": "promptString",
      "description": "Enter your Postman API key"
    }
  ]
}

To use Minimal mode, remove the --full flag. For Code mode, replace --full with --code.

In Cursor Editor

To install the local Postman MCP server in Cursor:

• Click the install button.
• The default mode is Full.
• Change or remove flags in your mcp.json to switch modes.

Example install command for local server:

{
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["@postman/postman-mcp-server", "--full"],
  "env": {
    "POSTMAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
  }
}

In Claude Code Terminal

Run this command for local server installation:

• Minimal mode:

claude mcp add postman --env POSTMAN_API_KEY=YOUR_KEY -- npx @postman/postman-mcp-server@latest

• Code mode:

claude mcp add postman --env POSTMAN_API_KEY=YOUR_KEY -- npx @postman/postman-mcp-server@latest --code

• Full mode:

claude mcp add postman --env POSTMAN_API_KEY=YOUR_KEY -- npx @postman/postman-mcp-server@latest --full

Tips

• Always use your correct Postman API key.
• If you want EU region support, use URLs like https://mcp.eu.postman.com or set the region flag to eu.
• Use the Postman MCP Server collection to explore and test tools.

With these simple steps, you can install and start using Postman MCP to automate your API workflows and integrate AI tools with Postman easily!