MCP servers and skills for Zed

Add a server

1. 1Open Settings > AI > MCP Servers and click Add Server.
2. 2Choose Install from Extensions, Add Local Server or Add Remote Server.
3. 3For a custom server, provide the command, args and env, or the URL and any headers; these are saved under context_servers.
4. 4Sign in through OAuth if the remote server asks for it.
5. 5Confirm the server's indicator dot is green (Server is active).

Where it's saved

Settings file

settings.json, under the context_servers keyOpen with zed: open settings file. The documentation doesn't give the user settings path per OS.

Project

.zed/settings.json

Settings UI

Settings > AI > MCP Servers

Zed Industries's MCP documentationHow to connect MCP servers to AI clients

A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file. Zed finds skills here:

Global

~/.agents/skills/

Project

<worktree>/.agents/skills/

Zed Industries's skills documentationHow to create a skill