How to Install the Official Porkbun MCP Server Locally (Claude Desktop and Other Apps)

Most people don't need to install anything. Porkbun hosts the server; see How to Connect Porkbun to Claude or How to Connect Porkbun to ChatGPT. Install it locally only if you want to use API keys, pin a version, or use the sandbox.

The Official Porkbun MCP server lets Claude Desktop manage your domains directly. Once it is set up, you can ask Claude to check domain availability, edit DNS records, manage nameservers, retrieve SSL bundles, and more, all using your Porkbun account.

This guide walks through the full setup. It takes about five minutes.

Before you start

You will need:

• Claude Desktop installed on your computer. This local setup is for Claude Desktop and other desktop apps. For the Claude website and mobile app, use the hosted connector instead (see How to Connect Porkbun to Claude).
• Node.js version 18 or newer. You can download it from nodejs.org. To check whether you already have it, open a terminal and run node --version   .
• A Porkbun account with API access enabled (covered in Step 1).

Step 1: Create your API keys

1. Go to porkbun.com/account/api.
2. Create a new API key. You will receive two values:

• A public key that starts with pk1_   
• A secret key that starts with sk1_   

1. Copy both keys somewhere safe. You will need them in Step 3.

By default, API access is turned on per domain. If you want the MCP server to manage every domain in your account, turn on the Opt In All Domains toggle on the same page. Otherwise, enable API access for each domain individually under Domain Management.

To limit what Claude can do with this key, set Permissions when you create it (or later with the gear next to it) (for example Manage, but no purchases) and, if you like, Allowed domains.

Or let Claude ask for a key. You can skip this step and install the server without keys (leave out the two key lines in Step 3). Then ask Claude to request an API key: it gives you a link to approve the key on porkbun.com, where you can also choose what it may do. Once you approve, Claude collects the key pair one time. Put the two keys into the config from Step 3 and restart Claude Desktop.

Step 2: Confirm Node.js is installed

Open a terminal (Terminal on macOS, Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows) and run:

node --version   

If you see a version number of 18 or higher, you are ready. If the command is not found or the version is older than 18, install or update Node.js from nodejs.org.

Step 3: Add Porkbun to your Claude Desktop config

Claude Desktop reads its connections from a configuration file. You will add the Porkbun server to that file.

Find the config file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json   
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json   

The easiest way to open it is from inside Claude Desktop: go to Settings, then Developer, then Edit Config. This opens the file in your text editor and creates it if it does not exist yet.

Add the Porkbun server. Paste the following into the file, replacing the placeholder keys with your own:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "porkbun": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@porkbunllc/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "PORKBUN_API_KEY": "pk1_your_public_key_here",
        "PORKBUN_SECRET_API_KEY": "sk1_your_secret_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

If your config file already has other servers listed under mcpServers   , add only the porkbun    block inside the existing mcpServers    section rather than replacing the whole file.

Save the file when you are done.

Step 4: Restart Claude Desktop and verify

1. Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop. The Porkbun tools will not appear until you restart.
2. Look for the Porkbun tools in the tool picker (the icon near the message box).
3. Confirm everything works by asking Claude something simple, such as:

> Use the Porkbun ping tool to check my API connection.

If your keys are set up correctly, Claude will report a successful connection. You can also try "List my domains" or "What is my account balance?"

That is it. Claude can now work with your Porkbun account.

What you can do

The server covers most of your account: domains, DNS, email forwarding and mailboxes, hosting, SSL, webhooks and more. The read-only tools are free and make no changes to your account, such as checking domain availability, viewing DNS records, listing your domains, and retrieving SSL bundles.

Other tools make changes, including creating and editing DNS records, updating nameservers, and managing URL forwards. Some tools spend money: registering, renewing and transferring domains, buying expired domains, new hosting and mailboxes, and adding account credit.

A note on spending

Because Claude can register, renew, and transfer domains, these actions draw down your Porkbun account balance. We recommend setting a monthly spend limit on the API settings page so an automated action cannot spend more than you intend. To stop it buying anything at all, set the key's Permissions to Manage, but no purchases.

The server also adds protection against accidental double-charges. If a write action is retried within 24 hours, for example after a network hiccup, it returns the original result instead of charging you twice.

Troubleshooting

The Porkbun tools do not appear. Make sure you fully quit and reopened Claude Desktop rather than just closing the window. Also double-check that your config file is valid JSON, since a missing comma or bracket will stop all servers from loading.

Connection or authentication errors. Confirm your public key (pk1_   ) and secret key (sk1_   ) are pasted correctly with no extra spaces. If you are trying to manage a specific domain, make sure API access is enabled for it, either through the Opt In All Domains toggle or individually under Domain Management.

The npx    command fails. This usually means Node.js is not installed or is older than version 18. Run node --version    to check, and install the latest version from nodejs.org if needed.

Other MCP clients

The Official Porkbun MCP server also works with Cursor, Cline, Continue, and other MCP-compatible tools. Most of them use a similar mcpServers    configuration block. Check your tool's documentation for where its config file lives, then add the same Porkbun block shown in Step 3.

Try it without a real account

A sandbox key (pk1_sb_…, created at porkbun.com/account/api, or ask Claude to make one, which needs no keys at all) runs every tool against a test environment with fake credit: no real registrations, DNS changes or charges.