Set up Katalon Studio MCP Server

This document explains configurations and hosting methods for Katalon Studio MCP server.

Starting from version 11.1.0, you can customize configurations and host MCP servers either by the Katalon Studio app, or via terminal. This enables flexible integration with AI tools, better security control, and even standalone usage without keeping KS open.

Set up the desktop MCP server

When you open Katalon Studio, an MCP server is automatically hosted with default settings:

• Port 33699
• No authentication
• All tools enabled

You can configure the desktop MCP server in Preferences > Katalon > AI Configuration > ... > Katalon Studio MCP.

You can configure the above settings by following these steps:

1. Go to Preferences > Katalon > AI Configuration > ... > Katalon Studio MCP.
2. Configure:
   • Port: choose an available port.
   • Authentication: enable to generate a secure token.
   • Tools: select only what should be exposed.
3. Ensure the server status is Running.

4. Click Copy to quickly get the connection configuration details.

This helps restrict access and control what external systems can use.

Set up a standalone MCP server

You can run the Katalon Studio package via terminal to host the MCP server in standalone mode, to use the MCP server without opening KS:

warning

A Katalon Studio package cannot run in both GUI mode and standalone MCP mode simultaneously. If the MCP server is started via terminal, the GUI running on the same KS package must be terminated, and vice versa.

Windows

1. Go to Preferences > Katalon > AI Configuration > StudioAssist > Katalon Studio MCP
2. Double-check configuration (port, authentication, available tools).
3. Click Generate Command and copy the KRE command.

4. Close Katalon Studio.
5. Open Command Prompt (CMD) at the folder that contains the katalon.exe file.
6. Execute the copied command.

MacOS

1. Go to Preferences > Katalon > AI Configuration > StudioAssist > Katalon Studio MCP
2. Double-check configuration (port, authentication, available tools).
3. Click Generate Command and copy the KRE command.

4. Close Katalon Studio.
5. Right-click Katalon Studio app and select "Show Package Contents". You will see the Contents folder.
6. Right-click the Contents folder and select "New Terminal at Folder".
7. Execute the copied command.

The MCP server will run independently and can be connected to external AI tools.

note

• Each MCP server instance is tied to a single project. To switch projects, stop the current server and restart it with the new project path.

Parameters for hosting the standalone server

You can customize the hosting command with these parameters:

Parameters	Description	Example
-noSplash	Run Katalon without launching the UI splash screen	-noSplash
-runMode=mcp	Start Katalon in MCP server mode	-runMode=mcp
-projectPath	Path to the Katalon project to load	-projectPath=/Users/son.hpham/Katalon Studio/ssss/test.prj
-apiKey	API key used to authenticate Katalon license	-apiKey=ed9a0******
-mcp.server.port	Port used to host the MCP server	-mcp.server.port=10245
-mcp.server.auth.enabled	Enable or disable authentication for the MCP server	-mcp.server.auth.enabled=true
-mcp.server.auth.token	Token used for authenticating MCP requests	-mcp.server.auth.token=2077******
-mcp.server.excluded.tools	Comma-separated list of MCP tools to exclude from exposure (no spaces between commas).	-mcp.server.excluded.tools="createBddFeatureFile,createCustomKeyword,createDynamicTestSuite"

Connect the MCP server to your editor

Once the MCP server is running, you can connect it to supported AI editors. This setup enables hybrid workflows, allowing you to apply fixes with other tools without disrupting your StudioAssist chat flow.

Cursor

Follow these steps:

1. Copy the connection configuration from KS.
2. Paste it into Cursor's MCP configuration.
3. Use StudioAssist and the tool in parallel.

Claude

Follow these steps:

1. Create a .json file in the Claude folder:
   • For Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\
   • For MacOS/Linux: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/
2. Paste the following into the JSON file. Adjust to match your configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-remote", "http://localhost:33699"]
    }
  }
}

VS Code

Follow these steps:

1. Copy the localhost URL in KS Connection Configuration panel (default is http://localhost:33699/mcp/stream).
2. In VS code, run the command Add MCP Server and select these options in order:
   1. Connection method: HTTP
   2. Server URL: http://localhost:33699/mcp/stream
   3. Server ID (optional): katalon-studio
   4. Installation location: global or the current workspace
3. See the MCP json file opened, indicating VS Code is now connecting to the MCP server.