OpenClaw MCP Server Integration: Complete Setup Guide

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is the standard way to give AI agents new capabilities. Over 65% of active OpenClaw skills now wrap MCP servers. Here's how to set them up.

What is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard created by Anthropic. It defines how AI models connect to external tools and data sources. Instead of each AI tool building custom integrations, MCP provides a universal interface.

Think of it like USB for AI — any MCP-compatible tool works with any MCP-compatible AI agent.

How OpenClaw Uses MCP

OpenClaw's skill system is built on MCP. When you install a skill like openclaw-google-calendar, it's actually an MCP server that:

1. Exposes tools (create event, list events, delete event)
2. Provides resources (calendar data, event details)
3. Handles authentication (OAuth tokens, API keys)

OpenClaw connects to these servers and uses their tools during conversations.

Setting Up MCP Servers

Method 1: Install via Skills (Recommended)

The easiest way — most popular MCP servers are packaged as OpenClaw skills:

openclaw plugins install @anthropic/mcp-filesystem
openclaw plugins install @anthropic/mcp-github
openclaw plugins install @anthropic/mcp-postgres

Method 2: Direct MCP Configuration

For custom or third-party MCP servers, configure them directly:

openclaw config set mcpServers.myserver.command "npx"
openclaw config set mcpServers.myserver.args '["@my-org/my-mcp-server"]'
openclaw config set mcpServers.myserver.env.API_KEY "your-key"

Method 3: Docker-Based MCP Servers

For MCP servers that need isolation:

openclaw config set mcpServers.browser.command "docker"
openclaw config set mcpServers.browser.args '["run", "--rm", "mcp/browser-automation"]'

Popular MCP Servers for OpenClaw

Productivity

• Google Calendar — Create, read, update calendar events
• Gmail — Read, draft, and send emails
• Notion — Read and write Notion pages and databases
• Todoist — Manage tasks and projects

Development

• GitHub — Issues, PRs, repos, code search
• PostgreSQL — Query and manage databases
• Filesystem — Read and write local files
• Docker — Manage containers and images

Data & Research

• Web Search — Search the internet
• Browser Automation — Navigate and interact with websites
• RSS Feeds — Monitor news and blog feeds
• Stock Data — Real-time market data

Communication

• Slack — Read and send Slack messages
• Discord — Manage Discord channels and messages
• Email (IMAP) — Connect to any email provider

Configuration Tips

Environment Variables

Always set sensitive data as environment variables, not in skill configuration:

openclaw config set mcpServers.github.env.GITHUB_TOKEN "ghp_your_token"

Timeout Settings

Some MCP servers need longer timeouts for complex operations:

openclaw config set mcpServers.browser.timeout 60000

Multiple Instances

Run multiple instances of the same MCP server with different configs:

openclaw config set mcpServers.work-calendar.command "npx"
openclaw config set mcpServers.work-calendar.args '["@google/calendar-mcp", "--calendar=work"]'

openclaw config set mcpServers.personal-calendar.command "npx"
openclaw config set mcpServers.personal-calendar.args '["@google/calendar-mcp", "--calendar=personal"]'

MCP on ClawTank

ClawTank containers come with the MCP runtime pre-installed. Popular MCP servers are available as one-click skill installs through the dashboard. No Docker configuration or dependency management needed.

Troubleshooting

Server Not Connecting

Check the MCP server is installed and accessible:

openclaw plugins list

Permission Errors

Ensure environment variables are set correctly. Most MCP servers need API tokens or OAuth credentials.

Slow Responses

Some MCP servers (browser automation, web search) are inherently slower. Consider increasing the timeout.

Get Started

Deploy on ClawTank with MCP servers pre-configured. Connect your favorite tools to OpenClaw and automate your workflow through natural language.