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Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers extend AI applications’ capabilities by providing secure, controlled access to local resources and tools. Many clients support MCP, enabling diverse integration possibilities across different platforms and applications. This guide demonstrates how to connect to local MCP servers using Claude Desktop as an example, one of the many clients that support MCP. While we focus on Claude Desktop’s implementation, the concepts apply broadly to other MCP-compatible clients. By the end of this tutorial, Claude will be able to interact with files on your computer, create new documents, organize folders, and search through your file system—all with your explicit permission for each action.