Configuration Corcava MCP pour Claude Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux)

Step-by-step guide to connect Claude Desktop to Corcava via MCP. This tutorial covers configuration file locations for all operating systems, JSON structure, verification, and common troubleshooting.

Prérequis

Claude Desktop installed on your system
A Corcava account with API key access
Basic familiarity with editing JSON files

Étape 1 : Obtenir votre clé API Corcava

Log in to Corcava
Navigate to Settings → Integrations
Find the Public API section
Click Add API Key
Copy the key immediately (it's only shown once)
Store it securely - you'll need it in the next step

💡 Tip

Name your API key descriptively (e.g., "Claude Desktop - MacBook Pro") so you can manage multiple keys easily.

Step 2: Locate Your Configuration File

The configuration file location depends on your operating system:

macOS

Path:

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

To open in Finder: Press Cmd+Shift+G and paste the path.

Windows

Path:

%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

To open in File Explorer: Press Win+R, type %APPDATA%\Claude, and press Enter.

Linux

Path:

~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

The ~ symbol refers to your home directory.

If the File Doesn't Exist

If the configuration file doesn't exist yet:

Create the directory if needed (e.g., ~/.config/Claude/ on Linux)
Create a new file named claude_desktop_config.json
Start with an empty JSON object: {}

Step 3: Add Corcava MCP Server Configuration

Open the configuration file in a text editor and add the Corcava MCP server. The exact structure depends on whether you already have other MCP servers configured.

If This Is Your First MCP Server

If the file is empty or doesn't have an mcpServers section, use this structure:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "corcava": {
      "url": "https://app.corcava.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

If You Already Have Other MCP Servers

If you already have MCP servers configured, add Corcava to the existing mcpServers object:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "existing-server": {
      ...
    },
    "corcava": {
      "url": "https://app.corcava.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

⚠️ Important

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the actual API key you copied in Step 1
There must be a space between "Bearer" and your API key
Do not include quotes around the API key in the header value
Ensure the JSON is valid (no trailing commas, proper quotes)

Step 4: Validate JSON Syntax

Before saving, validate your JSON to avoid errors:

Online validator: Use jsonlint.com or similar
Command line: python -m json.tool claude_desktop_config.json
VS Code: The editor will highlight JSON syntax errors

Common JSON Mistakes

Trailing commas (e.g., "key": "value", on the last item)
Missing quotes around keys or string values
Single quotes instead of double quotes
Missing commas between object properties

Step 5: Save and Restart Claude Desktop

Save the configuration file
Completely quit Claude Desktop (not just minimize)
Restart Claude Desktop
Wait for Claude to fully initialize (may take a few seconds)

Why Restart is Required

Claude Desktop loads its MCP server configuration only at startup. Simply saving the file isn't enough - you must fully quit and restart the application for changes to take effect.

Step 6: Verify Tools Are Available

After restarting, verify that Claude can see Corcava's MCP tools:

Verification Prompt

Ask Claude:

"What MCP tools are available from Corcava?"

Expected Response:

Claude should list tools like:

list_tasks
get_task
create_task
update_task
list_projects
start_time_tracking
And more...

First Test: List Your Tasks

Try a simple read-only operation:

Prompt:

"What tasks do I have in Corcava?"

Expected: Claude should list your tasks (or say there are none if your workspace is empty).

Troubleshooting

❌ "Authorization failed" or 401 Error

Possible Causes:

API key is incorrect or has extra spaces
Missing "Bearer" prefix or space after "Bearer"
API key was revoked or deleted
Trailing whitespace when copying the key

Fix:

Verify the key is active in Corcava Settings → Integrations
Check the header format: "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" (with space)
Regenerate the API key if needed

Read full 401 troubleshooting guide →

❌ Tools Not Showing Up

Possible Causes:

Didn't fully restart Claude Desktop
JSON syntax error in config file
Config file in wrong location
MCP server connection failed silently

Fix:

Validate JSON syntax (use jsonlint.com)
Verify config file is in the correct OS-specific location
Completely quit and restart Claude Desktop
Check Claude Desktop logs for error messages

Read tools troubleshooting guide →

❌ "Connection refused" or Network Error

Possible Causes:

Internet connectivity issues
Firewall blocking HTTPS connections
Corporate proxy interfering
Corcava service temporarily unavailable

Fix:

Test if https://app.corcava.com is accessible in your browser
Check network/firewall settings
Try regenerating your API key

Read connection troubleshooting guide →

❌ Invalid JSON Error

Common Mistakes:

Trailing comma after last property
Missing quotes around keys or values
Single quotes instead of double quotes
Missing comma between properties

Fix:

Use a JSON validator (jsonlint.com)
Check for trailing commas
Ensure all strings use double quotes

Read JSON troubleshooting guide →

Example Workflows

Once connected, try these prompts:

Weekly Planning

Prompt:

"What tasks are due this week in Corcava? Show me what's due, what's blocked, and what I should prioritize."

Create Follow-Up Task

Prompt:

"Create a task to follow up with Acme Corp next week. Show me what you'll create before creating it."

Time Tracking

Prompt:

"Start tracking time on the [task name] task"

See more workflows in our use cases guide.

Next Steps

Claude Desktop Workflows

Weekly planning, status reports, and time tracking prompts

Security Best Practices

API key management and safe write operations

Ready to Get Started?

Connectez Claude Desktop à Corcava en quelques minutes

Commencer l'essai gratuit → 5-Minute Quickstart

Aucune carte bancaire requise