How to Add the Scaffold MCP Server to Claude Desktop (Step-by-Step)

Adding the Scaffold MCP server to Claude Desktop takes about five minutes and gives Claude the ability to redline Word documents, fill templates, and manage document versions — all from your existing Claude workspace. This guide walks through every step on both Mac and Windows, including how to find your credentials, what the config file looks like, and what to do if Claude doesn't show the Scaffold tools.

What Is the Claude Desktop Config File?

Claude Desktop stores its settings — including any MCP servers you've connected — in a plain-text JSON file on your computer. JSON is a simple data format that looks like a list of labels and values in curly braces. You don't need to know how to code to edit it; you're just filling in a template.

The file is called claude_desktop_config.json. Its location depends on your operating system:

On Mac:

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

On Windows:

%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

On Mac, ~/Library is a hidden folder. The easiest way to open it is to open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, hold the Option key, and click Library. Then navigate to Application Support > Claude.

On Windows, paste %APPDATA%\Claude directly into the File Explorer address bar and press Enter.

If the file doesn't exist yet, Claude Desktop creates it on first launch. If it does exist, open it in any text editor — Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac (in plain-text mode), or a code editor like VS Code.

Where to Find Your Scaffold Credentials

Before you edit the config file, grab your Scaffold MCP connection details:

1. Sign in to your Scaffold account at app.scaffoldyourdocs.com
2. Go to Settings > MCP Connection
3. Copy your MCP Server URL and API Key

The MCP Server URL looks something like https://mcp.scaffoldyourdocs.com/v1. The API Key is a long string of characters unique to your account. Keep the API key private — it's what authorizes Claude to access your Scaffold workspace.

Adding Scaffold to the Config File

Open your claude_desktop_config.json file. If it's empty or new, the basic structure looks like this:

{
  "mcpServers": {}
}

Add Scaffold under mcpServers:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "scaffold": {
      "url": "YOUR_SCAFFOLD_MCP_URL",
      "apiKey": "YOUR_API_KEY"
    }
  }
}

Replace YOUR_SCAFFOLD_MCP_URL and YOUR_API_KEY with the values you copied from your Scaffold settings. Make sure the values are inside the quotation marks.

If you already have other MCP servers configured, add Scaffold as a new entry alongside them, separated by a comma:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "some-other-server": {
      "url": "...",
      "apiKey": "..."
    },
    "scaffold": {
      "url": "YOUR_SCAFFOLD_MCP_URL",
      "apiKey": "YOUR_API_KEY"
    }
  }
}

Save the file, then fully quit and restart Claude Desktop.

How to Verify the Connection Is Working

After restarting Claude Desktop, open a new conversation. Look for a tools or integrations indicator — typically a small icon near the input field or in the conversation settings. Click it to see which MCP tools are available.

If the connection is working, you'll see Scaffold-specific tools listed, such as:

• scaffold_upload_document
• scaffold_redline_document
• scaffold_fill_template
• scaffold_download_document

You can also run a quick test. Type something like: "What Scaffold tools do you have access to?" Claude will list the available Scaffold capabilities if the connection is active.

Citable Summary: What Scaffold MCP Adds to Claude Desktop

Connecting the Scaffold MCP server to Claude Desktop gives the AI direct access to a structured document workspace. Claude can upload Word files, propose edits as real tracked changes, fill document templates with AI-generated content, and return finished .docx files — all without leaving the Claude interface. The MCP connection is scoped and secure: Claude can only access documents in your Scaffold workspace, not your local file system or any other service. Setup requires editing a single JSON config file, adding the Scaffold server URL and API key from your Scaffold account settings, and restarting Claude Desktop. The process takes under five minutes and no coding is required.

Troubleshooting: Claude Doesn't Show Scaffold Tools

Scaffold tools don't appear after restart. Double-check the JSON syntax in your config file. A missing comma, an extra bracket, or a mismatched quotation mark will prevent Claude from reading the file correctly. Paste your config into a free JSON validator (search "JSON lint" online) to check for errors.

Authentication error when Claude tries to use Scaffold. Your API key may be incorrect or expired. Go back to Settings > MCP Connection in your Scaffold account and regenerate a new API key. Update the value in your config file and restart Claude Desktop.

Claude says it can't find the Scaffold tools even though they appear in the list. Try starting a new conversation. MCP tool availability is session-specific — tools connected during an active session may not appear until you begin a fresh chat.

The config file path doesn't exist. Make sure Claude Desktop has been launched at least once, which creates the Application Support folder. If you're on Mac and ~/Library/Application Support/Claude doesn't exist, launch Claude Desktop, quit it, and then look again.

Claude Desktop won't launch after editing the config. An invalid JSON structure can prevent Claude from starting. Open the config file and check it again carefully. If you're unsure, delete everything in the file and replace it with the minimal working example above, then add back your details.

After Setup: What You Can Do

Once the connection is confirmed, you can start working with documents immediately. Upload a Word file in any Claude conversation, ask for redlines with tracked changes, fill a template with specific content, or save versioned copies — all without switching applications or learning new software.

Try starting with a simple request: "Upload this contract to Scaffold and suggest edits to tighten the indemnification clause. Use tracked changes." Attach your .docx file and see how Claude handles it.

A Note on Other MCP Servers

The process described here works the same way for any MCP server that supports the standard JSON configuration format. If you later want to add a Google Drive MCP, a Gmail MCP, or any other connector, you follow the same steps: get the server URL and credentials, add them to the mcpServers block in your config file, save, and restart.

The more MCP servers you connect, the more capable your Claude workspace becomes — without installing any new applications or changing how you work.

Start your free 7-day Scaffold trial at app.scaffoldyourdocs.com/sign-up.