One of the challenging things for Shopify users is understanding the technical aspects of the platform, such as development processes and APIs. Getting answers previously required spending time browsing offical documentation or piecing together articles from the internet. But now, there’s a better way. Using MCP to connect Shopify Dev docs into an LLM of your choice like Claude.
So as a Shopify owner, how to set it up and utilize it? Check out our article.
How to set it up
Getting the official Shopify MCP server connected to Claude takes just a few steps:
The first thing is to get the right tools
- Download and install Claude Desktop (the web version doesn’t support MCP yet)
- Make sure you have Node.js installed
Then add this configuration to your Claude Desktop settings:
- Open Claude Desktop and go to Settings > Developer
- Click “Edit config”
- Add this code to your configuration file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"shopify-dev-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@shopify/dev-mcp@latest"]
}
}
}- Save the file, then completely restart Claude Desktop
- Check Settings > Developer to make sure your server shows as “running”
Now Claude has a direct line to Shopify’s developer knowledge.
Tip: If you are a Shopify owner who wants to try this integration, you might encounter issue with adding code correctly. Our tip is to ask ChatGPT, Claude or any AI tool to put the code above to the config file of Claude. Otherwise, the setup won’t be successfully done.
Benefits for Shopify owners
Even though this set up is inclined to developers, you still can get helpful knowledge about Shopify as a business owner. For example, instead of browsing the whole internet to understand a technical issue on your store, you can just ask Claude like this:
What’s the best way to implement a custom cart drawer in Shopify 2.0 themes?
The Claude will use Shopify dev docs to give you a very detailed answer for your questions
Overall, for Shopify owners, you will have a tool to tackle challenging issues and also have a knowledge library about Shopify to study, research or whatever you are up to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can the official Shopify MCP server actually do right now?
Currently, it gives Claude access to Shopify’s developer documentation and resources. This means better answers about Shopify development, APIs, platform capabilities, and best practices.
Do I need coding skills to set this up?
Basic comfort with following technical instructions helps, but you don’t need to be a developer. If you can copy/paste text and navigate to settings menus, you can handle this setup.
Is this the same as having Claude manage my Shopify store?
Not yet. The current integration focuses on enhancing Claude’s knowledge about Shopify development. Operational store management features may come in future iterations.
What if the server isn’t running after configuration?
Double-check your JSON syntax (watch for misplaced commas or brackets) and ensure Node.js is properly installed. Restarting your computer can sometimes resolve connection issues.
Is this integration secure?
Yes. The official Shopify MCP server operates locally on your machine and follows security best practices for API access.
Can I use this on my iPad or phone?
Not currently. MCP integration requires the desktop version of Claude, which needs to be installed on a computer.
Conclusion
MCP is getting into everyone’s daily work as it can enhance the productivity. So if you want to learn more about MCP,
→ Check out our friendly MCP Training sessions!
We break everything down into easy steps, no tech jargon or complicated explanations. Just straightforward help to get your work talking to Claude in ways you never thought possible.
