# Sequential Thinking MCP server

> Work through problems as a sequence of thoughts that can be revised, branched and extended as understanding grows.

- Listing: https://mcp.tc/i/sequential-thinking
- Connect: this is a local (stdio) server; install it on your machine (see Install). The listing link is a page, not an MCP endpoint.
- Type: local (stdio)
- Auth: no API key needed
- Category: [AI & Machine Learning](https://mcp.tc/c/ai-ml)
- Vendor: MCP reference servers
- Verified: yes, mcp.tc checked that this is the official server (https://mcp.tc/verify). It says who runs the server, not that it is safe.
- Homepage: <https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/sequentialthinking>
- Repository: <https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/sequentialthinking>
- Package: npm `@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking`

## About

Sequential Thinking is a reference server from the Model Context Protocol project. It gives an assistant a tool for dynamic, reflective problem solving: breaking a problem into numbered thoughts, revising earlier steps, and branching into alternative lines of reasoning.

It runs locally over stdio through npx and needs Node.js. It requires no API key, sign-in or environment variables. The repository describes its servers as reference implementations meant for demonstration and education, not production use.

## What it can do

- Break a complex problem into a sequence of thoughts
- Revise earlier thoughts when new information appears
- Branch into alternative lines of reasoning
- Adjust the estimated number of steps as work proceeds

## Example prompts

- "Use sequential thinking to plan a migration from REST to GraphQL."
- "Think step by step about why this test fails intermittently, and revise as needed."
- "Work through the trade-offs of two database designs, branching for each option."

## Install

### Claude Code

1. Run this in a terminal, in your project folder:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio sequential-thinking -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking
```

2. Start Claude Code and type `/mcp`. **sequential-thinking** should show as connected.

Add `--scope user` to make it available in every project.

### Claude Desktop

1. Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**. It opens `claude_desktop_config.json`. Add:

`claude_desktop_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

Needs Node.js on your computer. The file lives in `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/` on macOS and `%APPDATA%\Claude\` on Windows.

### Cursor

[Add to Cursor](<https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=sequential-thinking&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IiwiYXJncyI6WyIteSIsIkBtb2RlbGNvbnRleHRwcm90b2NvbC9zZXJ2ZXItc2VxdWVudGlhbC10aGlua2luZyJdfQ%3D%3D>) (opens Cursor)

Or add it by hand to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (this project):

`mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs Node.js on your computer.

### VS Code

[Install in VS Code](<https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=sequential-thinking&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40modelcontextprotocol%2Fserver-sequential-thinking%22%5D%7D>) (opens VS Code)

Or from a terminal:

```bash
code --add-mcp '{"name":"sequential-thinking","type":"stdio","command":"npx","args":["-y","@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"]}'
```

Or commit it to the repo in `.vscode/mcp.json`:

`.vscode/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs Node.js on your computer.

### Devin Desktop

1. Add it to `~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json` (macOS and Linux) or `%APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json` (Windows):

`mcp_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Refresh the MCP server list in Cascade.

Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf.

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add sequential-thinking -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking
```

Or edit `~/.codex/config.toml` directly:

`config.toml`:

```toml
[mcp_servers.sequential-thinking]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"]
```

Needs Node.js on your computer.

### Gemini CLI

```bash
gemini mcp add sequential-thinking npx -- -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking
```

This adds it to the current project. Add `-s user` to use it everywhere.

### Any client

Most clients that start local servers accept this shape:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Zed puts servers under `context_servers` in its settings, with the same `command`, `args` and `env` fields.

Needs Node.js on your computer.

## Details

- Server version: 2026.8.31
- Last checked: 2026-10-03
- Listed: 2026-10-03
- Updated: 2026-10-03

---
Source: https://mcp.tc/i/sequential-thinking (mcp.tc is an independent directory, not affiliated with this server's publisher). Corrections: https://mcp.tc/report