Desktop extensions

Deploy enterprise-grade MCP servers with MCPB

Desktop extensions allow you to deploy local MCP servers for Claude Desktop with enterprise-grade features using MCPB (MCP Bundles).

Available for Team and Enterprise plans with Claude Desktop.

What are desktop extensions?

Desktop extensions are local MCP servers that run on user devices, providing:

• Local tool access without internet dependency
• Enhanced security for sensitive operations
• Custom integrations for internal tools
• Enterprise deployment capabilities

MCPB (MCP Bundles)

MCPB is Anthropic’s utility for building and deploying desktop extensions:

• Package MCP servers for distribution
• Handle cross-platform compatibility
• Manage dependencies
• Support enterprise deployment

Key features

• Bundling: Package your MCP server with all dependencies
• Distribution: Deploy to users via your organization’s channels
• Updates: Manage version updates centrally
• Security: Sign and verify extensions

When to use desktop vs remote

Use Case	Recommended
Access to local files/tools	Desktop Extension
Internet-hosted services	Remote MCP
Sensitive enterprise data	Desktop Extension
Public APIs	Remote MCP
Offline capability needed	Desktop Extension

Enterprise deployment

For Team and Enterprise plans, admins can:

1. Build custom desktop extensions
2. Package with MCPB
3. Deploy through enterprise software management
4. Control which extensions are available to users

Security considerations

Desktop extensions run locally with user permissions:

• Access only what the user can access
• No data transmitted unless explicitly designed
• Full audit capability for enterprise
• Revocable by administrators

Getting started

1. Review the MCPB documentation
2. Build your MCP server
3. Bundle with MCPB
4. Test locally
5. Deploy to your organization

Related topics

Building Connectors

Learn to build MCP servers.

Remote MCP

Using cloud-hosted connectors.