Setup in Cursor
Axe MCP server can be added at either the project or global level.
One-click install
Click the link below to install the axe MCP server directly in Cursor:
Install axe MCP server in Cursor
Cursor will prompt you to confirm the installation. Alternatively, follow the manual setup steps below.
Choose scope
- Project-level: Create a file at
.cursor/mcp.jsonin your project's root directory - Global-level: Open Cursor settings, go to Features > MCP, and click Add New MCP Server. This will open your global configuration file.
Adding configuration JSON
Add the following configuration JSON.
If you already have other servers defined, add the axe-mcp-server block inside the existing mcpServers object.
{
"mcpServers": {
"axe-mcp-server": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"--add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-e",
"AXE_SERVER_URL",
"-e",
"AXE_API_KEY",
"dequesystems/axe-mcp-server:latest"
],
"env": {
"AXE_API_KEY": "${env:AXE_API_KEY}"
}
}
}
}The configuration uses "AXE_API_KEY": "${env:AXE_API_KEY}" for secure input handling. The ${env:AXE_API_KEY} syntax instructs Cursor to pull the value from your system variables. For more information, see the Cursor MCP documentation.
Using a regional, private cloud, or on-premises axe instance? Add AXE_SERVER_URL to the env block with your instance's base URL:
"env": {
"AXE_API_KEY": "${env:AXE_API_KEY}",
"AXE_SERVER_URL": "https://your-axe-instance.example.com"
}If omitted, the server defaults to https://axe.deque.com (Deque's shared US SaaS instance). See Configuration Options for details.
Usage and verification
Once added, the status indicator in Cursor Settings should show that the server is running:
- Open Cursor Settings
- Go to Features > MCP
- You should see axe-mcp-server listed under Installed MCP Servers with the analyze and remediate tools available.