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This guide helps you resolve common issues when setting up or using Context7 MCP.

Quick Checklist

  • Confirm Node.js v18+ is installed (node --version)
  • Update to the latest Context7 MCP package (@upstash/context7-mcp@latest)
  • Verify connectivity with curl https://mcp.context7.com/mcp/ping
  • Add your API key to the configuration if you hit rate limits
  • Enable debug logs (DEBUG=*) before collecting support information

Installation Issues

Module Not Found Errors

If you encounter ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND, try using bunx instead of npx:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "bunx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
Use this when you see module resolution errors with npx.

ESM Resolution Issues

For errors such as Error: Cannot find module 'uriTemplate.js', try the --experimental-vm-modules flag:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "--node-options=--experimental-vm-modules", "@upstash/context7-mcp@1.0.6"]
    }
  }
}

TLS/Certificate Issues

Use the --experimental-fetch flag to bypass TLS-related problems:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "--node-options=--experimental-fetch", "@upstash/context7-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Quick Fixes

  1. Try adding @latest to the package name to ensure you’re using the most recent version:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp@latest", "--api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"]
    }
  }
}
  1. Use bunx as an alternative to npx:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "bunx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp", "--api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"]
    }
  }
}
  1. Consider using deno as another alternative runtime:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "deno",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--allow-env=NO_DEPRECATION,TRACE_DEPRECATION",
        "--allow-net",
        "npm:@upstash/context7-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
  1. Ensure you’re using Node.js v18 or higher for native fetch support:
node --version
If you’re on an older version, upgrade Node.js to v18 or later.

Platform-Specific Issues

Windows Issues

Request Timeout Errors

On Windows, some users may encounter request timeout errors with the default configuration. Try using the full path to Node.js and the installed package:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe",
      "args": [
        "C:\\Users\\yourname\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@upstash\\context7-mcp\\dist\\index.js",
        "--transport",
        "stdio",
        "--api-key",
        "YOUR_API_KEY"
      ]
    }
  }
}
Alternatively, use this configuration with cmd:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "cmd",
      "args": ["/c", "npx", "-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp", "--api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"]
    }
  }
}

macOS Issues

Request Timeout Errors

On macOS, some users may encounter the same request timeout errors. Use the full path to Node.js and the installed package:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "/Users/yourname/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/node",
      "args": [
        "/Users/yourname/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/lib/node_modules/@upstash/context7-mcp/dist/index.js",
        "--transport",
        "stdio",
        "--api-key",
        "YOUR_API_KEY"
      ]
    }
  }
}
Replace yourname and the Node.js version (v22.14.0) with your actual username and installed Node.js version.

API and Connection Issues

Rate Limiting

If you encounter rate limit errors:
  • Get an API key: Sign up at context7.com/dashboard for higher rate limits
  • Add the API key to your configuration:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "url": "https://mcp.context7.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Authentication Errors

If you see 401 Unauthorized errors:
  1. Verify your API key is correct and starts with ctx7sk
  2. Check the header format - ensure the API key is properly set:
For HTTP transport:
{
  "headers": {
    "CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
  }
}
For stdio transport:
{
  "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp", "--api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"]
}

Library Not Found

If you get 404 Not Found errors:
  1. Verify the library ID format is correct: /owner/repo or /owner/repo/version
  2. Search for the library first using resolve-library-id tool
  3. Check if the library exists at context7.com

MCP Client-Specific Issues

Cursor

  • Make sure you’re using Cursor 1.0 or later for the best MCP support
  • Try both global (~/.cursor/mcp.json) and project-specific (.cursor/mcp.json) configurations
  • Restart Cursor after changing the MCP configuration

VS Code

  • Ensure you have the latest version of VS Code with MCP support
  • Check that the Copilot extension is installed and updated
  • Restart VS Code after configuration changes

Claude Code

  • Verify the MCP server is added correctly with claude mcp list
  • Check logs with claude mcp logs context7
  • Try removing and re-adding the server

Proxy Issues

If you’re behind a corporate proxy:
  1. Set environment variables before starting your MCP client:
export https_proxy=http://proxy.example.com:8080
export HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy.example.com:8080
  1. Or add to your MCP configuration:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp", "--api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"],
      "env": {
        "https_proxy": "http://proxy.example.com:8080",
        "HTTPS_PROXY": "http://proxy.example.com:8080"
      }
    }
  }
}
See Usage Guide - Configure HTTPS Proxy for more details.

Debugging Tips

Enable Verbose Logging

Add debug output to your configuration:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp", "--api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"],
      "env": {
        "DEBUG": "*"
      }
    }
  }
}

Test with MCP Inspector

Test your setup independently:
npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/inspector npx @upstash/context7-mcp
This opens an interactive inspector to test Context7 tools.

Check Server Status

Test that the remote server is reachable:
curl https://mcp.context7.com/mcp/ping
Expected response: {"status": "ok", "message": "pong"}

Additional Support

If these solutions don’t resolve your issue:
  1. Check GitHub Issues: Search for similar problems at github.com/upstash/context7/issues
  2. Create a new issue: Include your:
    • Operating system and version
    • Node.js version (node --version)
    • MCP client and version
    • Configuration (remove sensitive data like API keys)
    • Error messages and logs
  3. Join Discord: Get help from the community at upstash.com/discord

Additional Resources