Install DocSearch MCP

DocSearch MCP is a hosted remote MCP server. It doesn't require authentication:

https://mcp.algolia.com/1/docsearch/mcp

Use @docsearch/cli to configure a supported coding agent, or add the endpoint to another MCP client manually.

Install with @docsearch/cli

The DocSearch CLI requires Node.js 20 or later. Run the interactive installer without installing the package globally:

npm

npx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup

Yarn

yarn dlx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup

pnpm

pnpm dlx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup

Bun

bunx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup

The installer asks whether to update the current project or your user-level settings. It detects and configures these clients:

• Cursor
• Claude Code
• Codex
• OpenCode
• Gemini CLI

For each selected client, the installer adds the algolia-docsearch server, a rule that describes when to search documentation, and a skill that describes the tool workflow. Project setup finds the repository root before writing files. You can run setup again without removing unrelated configuration.

Pass a scope and client flags to skip the prompts:

npm

npx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --project --cursor --claude --yes
npx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --global --all --yes

Yarn

yarn dlx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --project --cursor --claude --yes
yarn dlx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --global --all --yes

pnpm

pnpm dlx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --project --cursor --claude --yes
pnpm dlx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --global --all --yes

Bun

bunx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --project --cursor --claude --yes
bunx @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2 setup --global --all --yes

Use --cursor, --claude, --codex, --opencode, or --gemini to select clients. Use either --project or --global, not both.

To install the docsearch command globally, run:

npm

npm install --global @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2
docsearch setup

Yarn

yarn global add @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2
docsearch setup

pnpm

pnpm add --global @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2
docsearch setup

Bun

bun add --global @docsearch/cli@^0.0.2
docsearch setup

Install a client plugin

Plugins include the MCP connection and instructions that teach the client when and how to use DocSearch.

Claude Code

Run these commands inside Claude Code:

/plugin marketplace add algolia/docsearch
/plugin install algolia-docsearch@algolia-docsearch-marketplace

The plugin adds the MCP server, a skill, and the /algolia-docsearch:docs command.

Cursor

The Cursor plugin package is in the DocSearch repository at:

mcp/plugins/docsearch/cursor/algolia-docsearch

It includes the MCP server configuration, a rule, and a skill.

Configure a supported agent manually

Manual configuration adds the server but doesn't install the rules and skills supplied by the CLI or plugins.

Cursor

Add this entry to ~/.cursor/mcp.json for user-level configuration or .cursor/mcp.json for project configuration:

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "algolia-docsearch": {
      "url": "https://mcp.algolia.com/1/docsearch/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

Add the user-level remote server with the Claude Code CLI:

claude mcp add --scope user --transport http algolia-docsearch https://mcp.algolia.com/1/docsearch/mcp

Codex

Add the remote server with the Codex CLI:

codex mcp add algolia-docsearch --url https://mcp.algolia.com/1/docsearch/mcp

You can also add the URL under [mcp_servers.algolia-docsearch] in ~/.codex/config.toml.

OpenCode

Add this entry to opencode.json or opencode.jsonc:

opencode.json

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "algolia-docsearch": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://mcp.algolia.com/1/docsearch/mcp",
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

Gemini CLI

Add this entry to .gemini/settings.json for project configuration or ~/.gemini/settings.json for user-level configuration:

.gemini/settings.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "algolia-docsearch": {
      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.algolia.com/1/docsearch/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Connect another MCP client

You can also connect clients that support remote HTTP MCP servers. Use these connection methods:

• Claude Desktop: Add a custom connector named Algolia DocSearch with the endpoint URL.
• ChatGPT: Add a no-auth custom connector. Availability depends on the plan and workspace settings.
• Pi: Install an MCP extension or adapter before adding the server.
• VS Code: Add a remote server to the workspace or user MCP configuration. The tools are available in Copilot Chat agent mode.
• Windsurf: Add the endpoint to the Cascade MCP configuration, then restart Windsurf.
• Zed: Add the endpoint as a context server.
• Conductor: Configure the server in the selected Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor host. Conductor doesn't use a separate MCP configuration for those sessions.
• Antigravity: Add the endpoint through Manage MCP Servers > View raw config, then refresh the installed servers.

Configuration keys differ by client. Follow the client's MCP documentation and keep the server name algolia-docsearch and the endpoint URL unchanged.

Verify the installation

Ask your client to search public documentation:

Use DocSearch MCP to find the Next.js middleware matcher documentation.

Confirm that the client calls a tool whose name starts with algolia_docsearch_ and returns source links from the selected documentation.

If verification fails, see Troubleshooting.