OpenClaw & MCP
Model Context Protocol support for OpenClaw.
What Is MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open protocol that standardizes how AI applications connect to external tools and data sources. Think of it as USB-C for AI — a universal way to plug in capabilities.
Does OpenClaw Support MCP?
Yes. OpenClaw can connect to MCP servers, allowing agents to use tools exposed through the protocol. This extends what your agents can do without writing custom code.
MCP Architecture in OpenClaw
Your Agent
↓
OpenClaw Gateway
↓
MCP Client
↓
MCP Server
↓
External API / Tool
Use Cases
🔌 Database Access
Agents can query databases through MCP servers.
📊 Business Tools
Connect to CRM, analytics, project management.
☁️ Cloud Services
AWS, GCP, Azure resources through MCP.
🔧 Custom Tools
Expose your own APIs as MCP tools.
Basic Configuration
Configure MCP servers in your openclaw.json:
{
"mcp": {
"servers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "./data"]
}
}
}
}Popular MCP Servers
@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem
Read and write local files.
@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search
Web search capability.
@modelcontextprotocol/server-puppeteer
Browser automation.
Custom Servers
Build your own MCP server for any API.
Security Notes
- • MCP servers run with gateway permissions
- • Review what each server can access
- • Don't expose sensitive servers publicly
- • Keep servers updated for security patches