Claude Desktop MCPB Installation

Install GitLab MCP as a Claude Desktop Extension with one click.

One-Click Install

Download the latest bundle and open it:

Download gitlab-mcp-13.2.1.mcpb

Or drag-and-drop the .mcpb file into your Claude Desktop window.

What Happens

1. Claude Desktop shows the extension details
2. You enter your GitLab token and instance URL
3. The extension installs locally — no external services needed
4. The server offers up to 66 tools, filtered by your account settings and GitLab capabilities

Configuration

During installation, you'll be prompted for:

Setting	Required	Description
GitLab Token	Yes	Personal Access Token with api + read_user scopes
GitLab URL	No	Instance URL (default: https://gitlab.com)
Read-Only Mode	No	Disable all write operations

Manual Installation

If you prefer manual setup, use the npm method or JSON configuration instead.

Updating

When a new version is released, download the latest .mcpb from the documentation site or the GitHub releases page.

Advanced Configuration

The MCPB bundle exposes three core settings via user_config. For advanced environment variables (GITLAB_DENIED_ACTIONS, GITLAB_TOOL_*, USE_* flags), use manual JSON configuration or see the Customization guide.

Troubleshooting

• "Node.js version too old" — Ensure Claude Desktop is updated to the latest version
• Extension doesn't appear — Restart Claude Desktop after installation
• Token errors — Verify your token has api and read_user scopes