---
title: Installation
description: How to install and set up the Autotask MCP Server.
---
## 1. MCPB Bundle (Claude Desktop)
The simplest method — no terminal, no JSON editing, no Node.js install required.
**Prerequisites:** [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/desktop) (macOS or Windows)
**Steps:**
1. Download `autotask-mcp.mcpb` from the [latest release](https://github.com/asachs01/autotask-mcp/releases/latest)
2. Open the file (double-click or drag into Claude Desktop)
3. Enter your Autotask credentials when prompted:
- **Username** — your API user email
- **Secret** — your API secret key
- **Integration Code** — your Autotask integration code
That's it. Claude Desktop handles the rest.
:::tip[Claude Code (CLI)]
If you use Claude Code instead of Claude Desktop, one command does it:
```bash
claude mcp add autotask-mcp \
-e AUTOTASK_USERNAME=your-user@company.com \
-e AUTOTASK_SECRET=your-secret \
-e AUTOTASK_INTEGRATION_CODE=your-code \
-- npx -y github:asachs01/autotask-mcp
```
:::
---
## 2. Docker
Pull the pre-built image from GitHub Container Registry:
```bash
docker pull ghcr.io/asachs01/autotask-mcp:latest
```
### Local (stdio — for Claude Desktop or Claude Code)
Add this to your MCP client config (e.g., `claude_desktop_config.json`):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"autotask": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run", "--rm", "-i",
"-e", "MCP_TRANSPORT=stdio",
"-e", "AUTOTASK_USERNAME=your-user@company.com",
"-e", "AUTOTASK_SECRET=your-secret",
"-e", "AUTOTASK_INTEGRATION_CODE=your-code",
"--entrypoint", "node",
"ghcr.io/asachs01/autotask-mcp:latest",
"dist/entry.js"
]
}
}
}
```
### Remote (HTTP Streamable — for server deployments)
```bash
docker run -d \
--name autotask-mcp \
-p 8080:8080 \
-e AUTOTASK_USERNAME="your-user@company.com" \
-e AUTOTASK_SECRET="your-secret" \
-e AUTOTASK_INTEGRATION_CODE="your-code" \
--restart unless-stopped \
ghcr.io/asachs01/autotask-mcp:latest
# Verify
curl http://localhost:8080/health
```
Clients connect to `http://host:8080/mcp` using MCP Streamable HTTP transport.
---
## 3. From Source (Development)
```bash
git clone https://github.com/asachs01/autotask-mcp.git
cd autotask-mcp
npm ci && npm run build
```
Then point your MCP client at `dist/entry.js`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"autotask": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/autotask-mcp/dist/entry.js"],
"env": {
"AUTOTASK_USERNAME": "your-user@company.com",
"AUTOTASK_SECRET": "your-secret",
"AUTOTASK_INTEGRATION_CODE": "your-code"
}
}
}
}
```
---
## Verify the Installation
After configuring, ask your AI assistant:
> "Test the Autotask connection"
You should receive a confirmation that the connection is working.
## Upgrading
**MCPB Bundle:** Download the latest `.mcpb` file and open it again — Claude Desktop will update in place.
**Docker:** Pull the latest image:
```bash
docker pull ghcr.io/asachs01/autotask-mcp:latest
```
**From Source:** Pull and rebuild:
```bash
git pull && npm ci && npm run build
```
## Next Steps
- [Configure credentials and options](/autotask-mcp/getting-started/configuration/)
