How to Set Up the Linear MCP Server (2026)
Updated July 6, 2026• Web MCP Guide
The Linear MCP server connects your project management workspace directly to Claude, Cursor, or VS Code. Query issues, update status, create tickets, and run sprint summaries — all without switching context out of your editor or chat interface.
Prerequisites
- A Linear account with member or admin access to your workspace
- Node.js 18+ installed
- An MCP-compatible client: Claude Desktop, Cursor, or VS Code with MCP extension
Step 1 — Generate a Linear API Key
Go to linear.app → Settings → API → Personal API keys. Click “Create key,” give it a descriptive label (e.g. “MCP Claude”), and click Generate.
Copy the key immediately — Linear only shows it once. Paste it somewhere safe. The key grants access to everything your Linear account can access in the workspace, including all teams and projects your user is a member of.
⚠️ API key scope
Linear personal API keys authenticate as your user account. If you have admin access in Linear, the MCP server will also have admin-level access. For teams where write access needs to be limited, create a restricted Linear member account specifically for MCP use.
Step 2 — Install the Linear MCP Server
The official Linear MCP server can be run via npx (no global install required):
npx @linear/linear-mcp-serverOr install globally: npm install -g @linear/linear-mcp-server. Check the official Linear MCP repository for the current package name — it may differ across SDK versions.
Step 3 — Configure Your MCP Client
Add the server to your MCP client config. Replace the placeholder with your actual Linear API key.
Claude Desktop
Config: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"linear": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@linear/linear-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"LINEAR_API_KEY": "lin_api_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}Cursor IDE
Config: ~/.cursor/mcp.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"linear": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@linear/linear-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"LINEAR_API_KEY": "lin_api_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}Restart your MCP client after saving. Linear should appear in your available tools.
Step 4 — Test the Connection
Try a query in Claude Desktop or Cursor chat:
"Show me my assigned Linear issues"If it returns your issues, the connection is working. If you see an authentication error, verify the API key in your config matches what you copied from Linear. If results are empty, your user may not have any assigned issues — try: "List all open issues in the ENG team" (replace ENG with your team key).
What You Can Do With the Linear MCP Server
- Query issues by team, project, priority, assignee, or label
- Update issue status, priority, and assignee from a prompt
- Create new issues with title, description, and metadata
- Add comments to existing issues
- Summarize sprint or cycle progress for standups or planning
- Find all blocked issues or high-priority bugs across projects
- Build daily briefings: “What's overdue in my team this week?”
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Server not in tools list | Config JSON error or wrong file path | Validate JSON; confirm path for your OS and client |
| Authentication error | Invalid or expired API key | Generate a new key at linear.app/settings/api and update config |
| Empty results for team queries | Wrong team key identifier | Ask "List all teams in my workspace" to get correct team keys |
| Can't create or update issues | User doesn't have write permission | Check your Linear role in workspace settings; viewer role is read-only |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official Linear MCP server?
Linear released an official MCP server that connects to the Linear GraphQL API. It lets AI clients query issues, projects, and teams, update issue status, create new issues, and search across your Linear workspace. Community-maintained alternatives also exist, but the official Linear server is the recommended starting point.
What Linear API key do I need for the MCP server?
A personal API key from your Linear account settings (linear.app → Settings → API → Personal API keys). Create a new key, give it a label, and copy it — Linear only shows the full key once. The key grants access to everything your Linear user account can access. There is no workspace-level API key — each user authenticates with their own personal key.
Can the Linear MCP server create and update issues?
Yes. The Linear MCP server supports read and write operations — querying issues, updating status and priority, assigning to team members, adding comments, creating new issues, and moving issues between projects. The personal API key determines permissions, and Linear respects your user's permission level within the workspace.
Why is the Linear MCP server not finding my issues?
First verify the API key is correct — copy it fresh from linear.app/settings/api if unsure. Second, check that you're querying the right team or project identifier. Linear's workspace can contain multiple teams with separate issue spaces; queries often need a team key (e.g., ENG, DESIGN) to scope correctly. Try a broad search first to confirm connectivity.
Does the Linear MCP server work with Cursor and VS Code?
Yes. The same config works in any MCP-compatible client. Add it to ~/.cursor/mcp.json for Cursor, your VS Code MCP settings for VS Code, and claude_desktop_config.json for Claude Desktop. The LINEAR_API_KEY environment variable and command are the same across all clients.
What can I do with the Linear MCP server in Claude?
With Linear connected, you can ask Claude to show your assigned issues, summarize what's in the current sprint, create a bug report directly in Linear, update an issue's status or priority, find all high-priority items across a project, and generate daily standup summaries from your Linear board — all without switching out of your editor.