MySQL MCP server: setup for Claude & Cursor (2026)

There is no single "official" MySQL MCP server, but the cleanest route in 2026 is a universal database server — DBHub — that speaks MySQL, MariaDB, Postgres, SQL Server and SQLite through one DSN. Here is the setup for Claude Desktop and Cursor.

Configure the client

DBHub takes a database DSN and a transport. Run it in read-only mode:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mysql": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@bytebase/dbhub",
        "--transport", "stdio",
        "--readonly",
        "--dsn", "mysql://user:password@localhost:3306/mydb"
      ]
    }
  }
}

For MariaDB, use the same mysql:// scheme. Restart the client; see MCP config file location if needed.

Why read-only

--readonly blocks INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE and DDL, so the AI can explore and query but not mutate data. Keep it on by default — especially against any shared or production database. More in MCP security best practices.

Verify

Ask: "List the tables and describe the orders table." Real schema back confirms the connection.

Common problems

• Access denied for user — wrong credentials or the user lacks privileges on that database.
• ECONNREFUSED 3306 — MySQL is not running or is on a different host/port.
• Cannot connect from Docker/WSL — localhost may not resolve to the host; use the host IP or host.docker.internal.
• No tools in client — Node 18+ required; see Cursor MCP not working.

Going further

A universal DB server is handy when you touch several engines. Browse the databases category, compare options in best MCP server for a database, or grab the backend developer stack.