# Claude Desktop Integration Guide
This guide explains how to integrate Claude Desktop with the TomTom MCP Server to enable location-based tools using TomTom APIs.
## Prerequisites
- Claude Desktop installed (latest version recommended)
- A valid [TomTom API key](https://developer.tomtom.com/)
## Setup
### Option 1: Install Claude Desktop Extension (Recommended)
Each extension is a self-contained binary that bundles Node.js and all native dependencies — **no Node.js installation required**. Dynamic maps work out of the box.
1. Download the `.mcpb` file for your platform from [the latest release page](https://github.com/tomtom-international/tomtom-mcp/releases/latest):
| Platform | File |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------------|
| macOS (Apple Silicon) | `tomtom-mcp-darwin-arm64.mcpb` |
| Linux (x64) | `tomtom-mcp-linux-x64.mcpb` |
| Windows (x64) | `tomtom-mcp-win32-x64.mcpb` |
2. Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Extensions
3. Drag the downloaded extension file into the window and click Install
<p align="center"><img alt="claude_dxt_install.png" src="../images/claude_dxt/claude_dxt_install.png" title="Claude Extension installation" width="800"/> </p>
4. When prompted, enter your TomTom API Key
<p align="center"><img alt="claude_dxt_configure.png" src="../images/claude_dxt/claude_dxt_configure.png" title="Claude TomTom-MCP configuration" width="800"/> </p>
5. Once installed, Click enable, Claude can use the following tools from the TomTom MCP Extension.
<p align="center"><img alt="claude_dxt_enable.png" src="../images/claude_dxt/claude_dxt_enable.png" title="Claude Enable Extension" width="800"/> </p>
<p align="center"><img alt="claude_dxt_connector.png" src="../images/claude_dxt/claude_dxt_connector.png" title="Claude Extension" width="800"/> </p>
<p align="center"><img alt="claude_dxt_tools_list.png" src="../images/claude_dxt/claude_dxt_tools_list.png" title="Claude Tools list" width="800"/> </p>
### Option 2: Manual JSON Configuration (Advanced)
This method requires Node.js 22+ to be installed on your system.
1. Add the following configuration to your `claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"tomtom-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@tomtom-org/tomtom-mcp@latest"],
"env": {
"TOMTOM_API_KEY": "<your_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}
```
2. Restart Claude Desktop. You'll see the TomTom MCP tools in the Claude Desktop tools menu.
## Test It
Ask Claude a question like:
> "What's the reachable range from Amsterdam within 30 minutes by car?"
If configured correctly, the MCP server will fetch results from TomTom APIs.
## Troubleshooting
- Ensure `TOMTOM_API_KEY` is valid and active.
- Check that the MCP server is accessible locally.
- If using **Option 1** (extension), make sure you downloaded the correct `.mcpb` for your platform (macOS/Linux/Windows).
- If dynamic maps are not working with **Option 2**, consider using Option 1 instead — it bundles all native dependencies.
