Why does my MCP config work in Cursor but not VS Code?

Because VS Code uses "servers" as the root key while Claude Desktop, Cursor and Windsurf use "mcpServers". A config copied between them is ignored without an error.

Which MCP clients support remote servers?

Claude Code (--transport http), VS Code ("type": "http") and Windsurf ("serverUrl") connect to a hosted server directly. For Claude Desktop and Cursor the reliable route is running the server locally over stdio.

MCP config, client by client

Every client claims to speak MCP, and then disagrees on the config. VS Code calls the root key servers while everyone else calls it mcpServers. Windsurf points at a remote server with serverUrl where others use url. Claude Code has no file at all — it is a CLI. Copying a config between them fails, usually with no error message. Here is each one, verified.

The differences that break configs

Client	Root key	Remote server	Config location
Claude Desktop	`mcpServers`	local stdio	`claude_desktop_config.json`
Claude Code	`CLI (no file to edit)`	--transport http	`.mcp.json / ~/.claude.json`
Cursor	`mcpServers`	local stdio	`.cursor/mcp.json`
VS Code	`servers`	"type": "http" + url	`.vscode/mcp.json`
Windsurf	`mcpServers`	serverUrl	`~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`

Pick your client

Claude Desktop Claude Code Cursor VS Code Windsurf

What PostWire's MCP server gives your agent

Tool	What it does
`generate_posts`	One prompt in, a native draft per network out — respecting each one's character limit, hashtag rules and link conventions.
`post_to_social`	Publish to one or many networks in a single call.
`get_post_status`	Check what happened to a post after it was accepted.
`list_platforms`	Which networks are available and which need approval.
`my_account`	Plan, usage and which brands are connected.

Hosted endpoint: https://postwire.io/api/mcp. Local package: npx -y postwire-mcp with POSTWIRE_API_KEY.

Get an API key free →

Questions people actually ask

Why does my MCP config work in Cursor but not VS Code?: Because VS Code uses "servers" as the root key while Claude Desktop, Cursor and Windsurf use "mcpServers". A config copied between them is ignored without an error.
Which MCP clients support remote servers?: Claude Code (--transport http), VS Code ("type": "http") and Windsurf ("serverUrl") connect to a hosted server directly. For Claude Desktop and Cursor the reliable route is running the server locally over stdio.