{"version":"2.1.296","anchor":"project-mcp-config-skipped-when-a-flag-checked-helper-is-on","canonical_anchor":"project-mcp-config-skipped-when-a-flag-checked-helper-is-on","heading":"Project .mcp.json files can now be skipped when loading MCP servers","tier":"soon","area":"MCP","scope":"individual","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.296\/e\/project-mcp-config-skipped-when-a-flag-checked-helper-is-on","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.296","markdown":"### Project `.mcp.json` files can now be skipped when loading MCP servers\n\nClaude Code has a new condition under which it skips reading project `.mcp.json` files and uses a server list from elsewhere\n\n**Unclear.** What the check tests, and so when project `.mcp.json` files are skipped, is not stated.\n\n**What**\n\nMCP servers are external tool servers that give Claude extra tools. Project ones are listed in `.mcp.json` files, which Claude Code finds by looking in your folder and the folders above it. Before, those files were always read. Now, when a new check passes, Claude Code skips that search and uses a list of servers from another source, with no errors reported.\n\n**Why**\n\nIn practice, project MCP servers defined in `.mcp.json` may not load in some modes.\n\n- Area: MCP\n- Tier: Nothing to try yet\n- Useful: 2\/5\n- Signal: 3\/5\n- Scope: individual\n- Heads-up: no"}