How to Set Up Vapi MCP Server with Claude Desktop on Windows 11

Published: 2024-04-19

Claude Desktop is already an impressive AI assistant,

but when you connect it to external tools through Vapi's Managed Cloud Platform (MCP), its capabilities expand dramatically. This integration allows Claude to make phone calls, manage assistants, and access other Vapi functionalities directly through conversation. In this guide, I'll walk you through setting up the Vapi MCP Server with Claude Desktop on Windows 11.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have:

• Claude Desktop installed on your Windows 11 computer
• A Vapi account with an API key (get this from dashboard.vapi.ai)
• Node.js installed on your system

Step 1: Create a Working Directory

First, we need to create a dedicated folder where the MCP server will run. Open PowerShell and type:

mkdir C:\Users\YourUsername\vapi-mcp-test

Replace 'YourUsername' with your actual Windows username.

Step 2: Create the Batch Script

Now let's create a batch script that will run the Vapi MCP server:

1. Open Notepad
2. Paste the following code:

@echo off
set VAPI_TOKEN=your-vapi-api-key-here
npx @vapi-ai/mcp-server

3. Replace 'your-vapi-api-key-here' with your actual Vapi API key
4. Save this file as 'run-vapi-mcp.cmd' in the folder we created earlier

Step 3: Install the Vapi MCP Server Package

Next, we'll install the Vapi MCP server package locally:

1. Open PowerShell
2. Navigate to your working directory:

cd C:\Users\YourUsername\vapi-mcp-test

3. Install the package:

npm install @vapi-ai/mcp-server

4. Wait for the installation to complete

Step 4: Configure Claude Desktop

Now we need to configure Claude Desktop to use our MCP server:

1. Open Claude Desktop
2. Click on the settings icon (gear icon) or press Ctrl+comma
3. Go to the Developer tab
4. Click 'Edit Config'
5. This will open a JSON configuration file
6. Replace the content with:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vapi-mcp-server": {
      "command": "C:\\Users\\YourUsername\\vapi-mcp-test\\run-vapi-mcp.cmd",
      "args": [],
      "cwd": "C:\\Users\\YourUsername\\vapi-mcp-test"
    }
  }
}

7. Remember to replace 'YourUsername' with your actual Windows username
8. Save the file and close it

Step 5: Restart Claude Desktop

For the changes to take effect:

1. Close Claude Desktop completely
2. Reopen Claude Desktop
3. The Vapi MCP server should start automatically in the background

Step 6: Test the Integration

Let's test if the integration is working:

1. In Claude Desktop, type something like: "List my Vapi assistants"
2. Claude should respond by calling the Vapi API
3. You should see your assistants listed if you have any, or Claude might help you create one

Step 7: Using Vapi Features

Now you can use various Vapi features directly through Claude:

1. Create a new assistant: "Create a new appointment scheduling assistant"
2. Make a call: "Call my phone number +1234567890 using my customer service assistant"
3. Schedule a call: "Schedule a call to +1234567890 for tomorrow at 3 PM"
4. Manage phone numbers: "List all my Vapi phone numbers"

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues:

1. Check if the batch file path is correct
2. Verify your Vapi API key is valid
3. Make sure Node.js is installed correctly
4. Check if the working directory exists and has the required permissions
5. Restart your computer and try again

Conclusion

That's it! You've successfully set up the Vapi MCP server with Claude Desktop on Windows 11. This powerful integration allows Claude to interact with phone systems and make calls on your behalf. The possibilities extend far beyond just making calls - you can build complex workflows that leverage Vapi's capabilities through natural conversation with Claude.

Have you set up Vapi with Claude Desktop? What integrations are you planning to build? Let me know in the comments below!

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