How to Install the Vonage Server API Bindings MCP Server

The Vonage Server API Bindings MCP Server, also known as the Tooling MCP Server, lets you invoke various API actions directly through your LLM Assistant or IDE of choice. Whether you’re working in VS Code, Cursor, or Claude Desktop, you can now get information that you used to have to visit the Vonage Customer Dashboard for.

Setup in VS Code or Cursor

The setup process is identical in both editors.

Step 1: Open the MCP Configuration

  1. Press Command+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux).
  2. Search for “MCP: Open User Configuration.”
  3. In the mcp.json file that opens, add the following configuration:
{
  "servers": {
    "vonage-mcp-server-api-bindings": {
        "type": "stdio",
        "command": "npx",
        "args": [
            "-y",
            "@vonage/vonage-mcp-server-api-bindings"
        ],
        "env": {
            "VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID": "<YOUR_VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID>",
            "VONAGE_PRIVATE_KEY64": "<YOUR_VONAGE_PRIVATE_KEY64>",
            "VONAGE_API_KEY": "<YOUR_VONAGE_API_KEY>",
            "VONAGE_API_SECRET": "<YOUR_VONAGE_API_SECRET>",
            "VONAGE_VIRTUAL_NUMBER": "<YOUR_VONAGE_VIRTUAL_NUMBER>",
            "VONAGE_WHATSAPP_NUMBER": "<YOUR_VONAGE_WHATSAPP_NUMBER>",
            "RCS_SENDER_ID": "<YOUR_RCS_SENDER_ID>"
        }
    }
  },
  "inputs": []
}

Note that we only support the Private Key in Base64 format. We recommend using https://mylight.work/private-key-to-environment-variable to convert your Private Key to base64 format, as this tool works entirely in your browser and does not transmit anything to a 3rd party server.

Step 2: Save and Reload

Save the file, close your editor, and restart VS Code or Cursor.
The MCP extension will automatically download and start the Vonage Tooling MCP Server.

You can now perform common dashboard actions, like:

“Can you create a new Vonage application called "My Chat App"?”

Setup in Claude Desktop

Step 1: Locate the Configuration File

Open (or create) your Claude MCP configuration file:

  • macOS:
    ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

  • Windows:
    %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Step 2: Add the Vonage Docs Server

Add the following snippet inside the "servers" section:

{
  "servers": {
    "vonage-mcp-server-api-bindings": {
        "type": "stdio",
        "command": "npx",
        "args": [
            "-y",
            "@vonage/vonage-mcp-server-api-bindings"
        ],
        "env": {
            "VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID": "<YOUR_VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID>",
            "VONAGE_PRIVATE_KEY64": "<YOUR_VONAGE_PRIVATE_KEY64>",
            "VONAGE_API_KEY": "<YOUR_VONAGE_API_KEY>",
            "VONAGE_API_SECRET": "<YOUR_VONAGE_API_SECRET>",
            "VONAGE_VIRTUAL_NUMBER": "<YOUR_VONAGE_VIRTUAL_NUMBER>",
            "VONAGE_WHATSAPP_NUMBER": "<YOUR_VONAGE_WHATSAPP_NUMBER>",
            "RCS_SENDER_ID": "<YOUR_RCS_SENDER_ID>"
        }
    }
  },
  "inputs": []
}

Step 3: Restart Claude

Restart Claude Desktop. It will automatically connect to the Vonage Documentation MCP Server.

You can now ask Claude questions like:

“Can you list the applications I have configured for my account?”

Claude will retrieve the answer directly from Vonage’s API and display them for you.