# Connect Cursor to Aria

> Add Aria's MCP server to Cursor with .cursor/mcp.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json: the exact JSON, how to keep the key out of git, and how to test it.

Source: https://getaria.cloud/docs/agents/cursor (updated 1 November 2026)

To connect Cursor, add Aria to Cursor's `mcp.json` file as a remote server with a `url` and an `Authorization` header. Use `~/.cursor/mcp.json` to make Aria available in every project, or `.cursor/mcp.json` inside a project. The server address is `https://api.getaria.cloud/mcp/w/<app id>`.

## What is the quickest way?

```bash
aria login
aria mcp add --agent cursor
```

The command asks you to approve a new key in Aria, then writes the server into `~/.cursor/mcp.json` and keeps your other servers. The file is private to you.

## How do I add it by hand?

Make a key under **AI & MCP**, then **Make a key**, and add this to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aria-myapp": {
      "url": "https://api.getaria.cloud/mcp/w/wsp_YOURAPP",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Replace `aria-myapp` with any name, `wsp_YOURAPP` with your app's id and `YOUR_KEY` with the key. If the file already has servers, add Aria next to them inside `mcpServers`. The dashboard prints this block with your values filled in.

## How do I keep the key out of git?

Put the file in your home folder, not the project. If you want a project file that you can commit, read the key from an environment variable instead of writing it:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aria-myapp": {
      "url": "https://api.getaria.cloud/mcp/w/wsp_YOURAPP",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:ARIA_MCP_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Save that as `.cursor/mcp.json`. Each person makes their own key and sets `ARIA_MCP_KEY` in the environment Cursor starts from.

## How do I check that it works?

Open Cursor's settings, go to the MCP section, and look for `aria-myapp` with its tools listed. Restart Cursor if it does not appear. Then ask the agent:

```text
Use Aria to show the status of this app.
```

## What should I ask it to do?

```text
Call get_stack_prompt, read this repository, write aria.yaml, check it with validate_stack_file, then save it with submit_stack_file. Ask me to enter any secret values; never print them.
```

Saving the file does not deploy it. Deploy with `aria deploy --wait`. Launching and changing variables wait for your approval in Aria. See the [safety model](https://getaria.cloud/docs/mcp).

Next: [Connect Codex to Aria](https://getaria.cloud/docs/agents/codex)