How do I install the needle mcp server?

Use a recorded configuration for your client, replace example credential values and paths, and verify the documented runtime. Restart or reconnect the client, then inspect the available tools.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `NEEDLE_API_KEY`, `NEEDLE_AUTH_HEADER` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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Needle MCP Server

Production-ready RAG out of the box to search and retrieve data from your own documents.

Remote serverstreamable-http

What is the Needle MCP Server?

Needle mcp server lets Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients work with Needle directly. Production-ready RAG out of the box to search and retrieve data from your own documents.

What Needle does

MCP (Model Context Protocol) server to manage documents and perform searches using Needle through Claude's Desktop Application.

MCP (Model Context Protocol) standardizes the way LLMs connect to external data sources. You can use Needle MCP Server to easily enable semantic search tools in your AI applications, making data buried in PDFs, DOCX, XLSX, and other files instantly accessible by LLMs.

Key capabilities

Document Management: — Easily add and organize documents on the server
Search & Retrieval: — Claude-based natural language search for quick answers
Easy Integration: — Works with Claude Desktop and Needle collections

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

How to install the Needle MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "needle": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.needle.app/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization:Bearer ${NEEDLE_API_KEY}"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NEEDLE_API_KEY": "<your-needle-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

Variable	Description	Required
NEEDLE_API_KEY	Credential the server authenticates with.	Yes
NEEDLE_AUTH_HEADER	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional

Frequently asked questions

Production-ready RAG out of the box to search and retrieve data from your own documents. Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.