Google Search (via Chrome) MCP server

Integrates Google search and webpage content extraction via Chrome browser automation, enabling access up-to-date web information for tasks like fact-checking and research.
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Provider
Chris Mann
Release date
Jan 24, 2025
Language
TypeScript
Package
Stats
915 downloads
11 stars

This MCP server enables Claude to perform Google searches and extract webpage content using your Chrome browser. It creates a connection between Claude and Chrome to facilitate web searches and content fetching when needed during your conversations.

Installation

Quick Setup

  1. Configure Claude Desktop

    • Open Claude Desktop on Mac
    • Navigate to Claude > Settings > Developer > Edit Config
    • Add the following to your config file:
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "mcp-chrome-google-search": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": [
            "-y",
            "@cmann50/mcp-chrome-google-search"
          ]
        }
      }
    }
    
    • Restart Claude Desktop
  2. First Time Setup

    • Grant Accessibility Permissions

      • On first run, approve the macOS accessibility permissions prompt
      • Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility
      • Add and enable permissions for your terminal app
    • Enable Chrome JavaScript from Apple Events

      • Open Chrome
      • Go to View > Developer > Allow JavaScript from Apple Events
      • This only needs to be done once

Alternative Installation Methods

NPX Installation

npx mcp-chrome-google-search

Custom Installation

  1. Checkout from git
  2. Run npm run build
  3. Add to Claude config (use absolute path):
{
    "google-tools": {
        "command": "node",
        "args": [
            "/your/checkout/path/mcp/mcp-chrome-google-search/dist/index.js"
        ]
    }
}

Requirements

  • macOS (Windows and Linux are not supported)
  • Google Chrome
  • Node.js 20 or higher

Advantages

  • Free Google search capability
  • Uses your existing Chrome browser, reducing the chance of being blocked
  • Can access authenticated content since it uses your browser session

Troubleshooting

Chrome JavaScript Error

If you see this error:

execution error: Google Chrome got an error: Executing JavaScript through AppleScript 
is turned off. For more information: https://support.google.com/chrome/?p=applescript (12)

Solution:

  1. Open Chrome
  2. Navigate to View > Developer > Allow JavaScript from Apple Events

Accessibility Permission Issues

If Chrome control fails:

  1. Open System Preferences
  2. Go to Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility
  3. Ensure your terminal app is listed and enabled
  4. Use the lock icon to make changes if needed

Debugging Logs

Monitor logs in real-time with:

tail -n 20 -F ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log

How to add this MCP server to Cursor

There are two ways to add an MCP server to Cursor. The most common way is to add the server globally in the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file so that it is available in all of your projects.

If you only need the server in a single project, you can add it to the project instead by creating or adding it to the .cursor/mcp.json file.

Adding an MCP server to Cursor globally

To add a global MCP server go to Cursor Settings > MCP and click "Add new global MCP server".

When you click that button the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file will be opened and you can add your server like this:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "cursor-rules-mcp": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "cursor-rules-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Adding an MCP server to a project

To add an MCP server to a project you can create a new .cursor/mcp.json file or add it to the existing one. This will look exactly the same as the global MCP server example above.

How to use the MCP server

Once the server is installed, you might need to head back to Settings > MCP and click the refresh button.

The Cursor agent will then be able to see the available tools the added MCP server has available and will call them when it needs to.

You can also explictly ask the agent to use the tool by mentioning the tool name and describing what the function does.

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