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MCP server Official

Hugging Face MCP Server

Official Hugging Face MCP server: connect an LLM to the Hub and Gradio Spaces, hosted at huggingface.co/mcp or run locally.

Author
Hugging Face
Works with
Any MCP client, Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI
License
MIT
Documented
Oct 2, 2026
Repository ↗ Official docs ↗ Registry ↗

What Hugging Face MCP Server is

The official Hugging Face MCP Server connects your LLM to the Hugging Face Hub and thousands of Gradio AI applications. It is available as a hosted endpoint at https://huggingface.co/mcp and can also be run locally over STDIO or stateless Streamable HTTP via npx or Docker. Tools and Spaces are configured at huggingface.co/settings/mcp.

What it does

How Hugging Face MCP Server plugs in: which agents run it and what it addsRUNS INYour agentClaude CodeGemini CLICursorAny MCP client4 hosts documentedMCP SERVER · OFFICIALHugging Face MCP ServerConnect the agent to tools, data…5 install steps2 permission noteslicense: MITWHAT IT ADDSWhat it doesExposes Hugging Face Hub API and…Connects to Gradio Spaces as toolsOffers a bouquet=openai option fo…Runs over STDIO or Streamable HTT…agent → extension → new capability · from the official repository or docs
Where Hugging Face MCP Server runs and what it adds, from its documentation
  • Exposes Hugging Face Hub API and search endpoints as MCP tools
  • Connects to Gradio Spaces as tools
  • Offers a bouquet=openai option for Hub filesystem, repo search/details/creation, dynamic Space, Jobs and sandbox tools
  • Runs over STDIO or Streamable HTTP (JSON mode) at /mcp
  • Provides a metrics web interface at /metrics when self-hosted

When to use it

Good fit

  • Searching Hub models, datasets and Spaces from an agent
  • Letting an agent call Gradio-based AI apps as tools
  • Self-hosting an MCP endpoint for the Hub in your own infrastructure

Not for

  • Setups where sending a Hugging Face token to the hosted endpoint is unacceptable (run locally instead)

How to install Hugging Face MCP Server

You need: Hugging Face account or token for authenticated tools; Node.js (npx) or Docker for local runs

  1. Claude Code: claude mcp add hf-mcp-server -t http https://huggingface.co/mcp?login
  2. Start claude and follow the instructions to authenticate
  3. Gemini CLI: gemini mcp add -t http huggingface https://huggingface.co/mcp?login
  4. Cursor/VS Code: add url https://huggingface.co/mcp with an Authorization: Bearer header
  5. Configure tools and Spaces at https://huggingface.co/settings/mcp
Configuration example (from the official docs)
"huggingface": {
    "url": "https://huggingface.co/mcp",
    "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <YOUR_HF_TOKEN>"
    }

Permissions and security

What it can access

  • Hugging Face Hub access via your token
  • Repository creation, Jobs, dynamic Space and sandbox tools require Hugging Face authentication

Security notes from the maintainers

  • HTTP clients must send a Hugging Face token in the Authorization: Bearer header; the HTTP transport does not fall back to DEFAULT_HF_TOKEN
  • MCP_STRICT_TOKEN=true rejects token-less connections with 401
  • The /metrics interface is public unless METRICS_PAGE_PASSWORD is set, and does not protect /mcp

Review the source before granting an agent access to credentials or production systems. We document what the maintainers state; we do not audit code.

Limitations

  • Hosted tool set depends on your settings at huggingface.co/settings/mcp
  • Skills activity dashboard is process-local and resets on restart

Tools it extends

Frequently asked questions

What is the Hugging Face MCP Server URL?

https://huggingface.co/mcp; add ?login to use the login flow. source

How do I add the Hugging Face MCP Server to Claude Code?

Run claude mcp add hf-mcp-server -t http https://huggingface.co/mcp?login, then start claude and complete authentication. source

Can I run the Hugging Face MCP Server locally?

Yes: npx @llmindset/hf-mcp-server for STDIO, npx @llmindset/hf-mcp-server-http for Streamable HTTP, or the ghcr.io/evalstate/hf-mcp-server Docker image. source

How do I limit which tools the Hugging Face MCP Server exposes?

Self-hosted, set DISABLE_TOOLS to a comma-separated list of tool names; hosted, configure tools at huggingface.co/settings/mcp. source

Related guides

Sources and gaps

Not stated by the maintainers: Release date not visible; Exact list of hosted tools not in README.

More extensions to look at