---
title: "Claude Code"
description: "Configure Claude Code CLI to use Jira MCP"
icon: "asterisk"
---
Set up Jira MCP with Claude Code to manage Jira tickets directly from the command line using natural language.
## Prerequisites
- Claude Code CLI installed (`npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code`)
- Active Claude subscription (Pro, Max, or API access)
- Jira MCP installed (see [Quickstart](/quickstart))
- jira-cli configured and authenticated
## Configuration
<Steps>
<Step title="Locate Claude Code config">
Claude Code stores its MCP configuration in `~/.claude/claude_desktop_config.json` or a similar location depending on your setup.
</Step>
<Step title="Add Jira MCP server">
Add the following to your Claude Code MCP configuration:
<Tabs>
<Tab title="Binary installation">
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"jira": {
"command": "/usr/local/bin/jira-mcp",
"env": {
"JIRA_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token",
"JIRA_AUTH_TYPE": "basic"
}
}
}
}
```
<Note>
Replace `/usr/local/bin/jira-mcp` with the actual path to your jira-mcp binary.
</Note>
</Tab>
<Tab title="Development setup (uv)">
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"jira": {
"command": "uv",
"args": ["--directory", "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/jira-mcp", "run", "python", "-m", "src.main"],
"env": {
"JIRA_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token",
"JIRA_AUTH_TYPE": "basic"
}
}
}
}
```
<Note>
Replace `/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/jira-mcp` with the actual path to your cloned repository.
</Note>
</Tab>
</Tabs>
</Step>
<Step title="Restart Claude Code">
Restart Claude Code to apply the changes.
</Step>
</Steps>
## Usage examples
Once configured, you can interact with Jira using natural language:
- "Show me my assigned tickets"
- "Create a bug ticket for the login page issue"
- "Move PROJ-123 to In Progress"
- "Add a comment to PROJ-456 explaining the fix"
- "What tickets are in the current sprint?"
## Troubleshooting
<AccordionGroup>
<Accordion title="MCP server not connecting">
1. Verify the path to your jira-mcp binary is correct.
2. Make sure jira-cli is properly configured by running `jira issue list` in your terminal.
3. Check Claude Code's logs for error messages.
</Accordion>
<Accordion title="Authentication errors">
Ensure your Jira credentials are set in the MCP configuration's `env` field:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"jira": {
"command": "/usr/local/bin/jira-mcp",
"env": {
"JIRA_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token",
"JIRA_AUTH_TYPE": "basic"
}
}
}
}
```
<Note>
GUI applications and CLI tools may not inherit shell environment variables from `.bashrc` or `.zshrc`. Using the `env` field in the MCP configuration is the recommended approach.
</Note>
</Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>
