npm package: @hauptsache.net/clickup-mcp
Description: Search, create, and retrieve tasks, add comments, and track time through natural language commands.
Author: Marco Pfeiffer
Latest version: 1.6.1

# ClickUp MCP for AI Assistants

Model Context Protocol (MCP) server enabling AI assistants to interact with ClickUp workspaces. Get complete task context with comments and images, search across projects, create and update tasks, collaborate through comments, and track time - all through natural language.

## This MCP vs Official ClickUp MCP

> See also: [Official ClickUp MCP Documentation](https://developer.clickup.com/docs/connect-an-ai-assistant-to-clickups-mcp-server)

| Feature              | This MCP                                              | Official ClickUp MCP                        |
|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| **Setup**            | Local npm/npx install                                 | Remote MCP (no install)                     |
| **Authentication**   | API key only                                          | OAuth only                                  |
| **Task Context**     | Complete with comments, status history, inline images | Requires mutiple tool calls for full contxt |
| **Image Support**    | Inline images with smart size budgeting               | Not documented                              |
| **Search**           | Fuzzy search on recent tasks (limited scope)          | Full ClickUp search database                |
| **Documents**        | CRUD operations                                       | CRUD + document search                      |
| **Time Tracking**    | View and create entries                               | Timers and entries                          |
| **Chat Integration** | Not supported                                         | Supported                                   |
| **Connected Apps**   | Not supported                                         | Connected Search                            |
| **Best For**         | Coding tools, automation, context gathering           | Chat apps, task management                  |
| **Support**          | Community (open source)                               | Official ClickUp                            |

**Choose this MCP when:**
- You need rich task context with inline images for AI coding tools
- You need API key authentication for automation or CI/CD pipelines
- You want the `read-minimal` mode optimized for development workflows

**Choose Official MCP when:**
- You need OAuth authentication for enterprise security compliance
- You need Chat integration or Connected Search features
- You want official support and no local installation

## What You Can Do

Turn natural language into powerful ClickUp actions:

**Agentic Coding & Development:**
- *"Look at CU-abc123, can you find the relevant code?"*
- *"Can you build the dashboard like described in https://app.clickup.com/t/12a23b45c?"*
- *"Check task CU-xyz789 and fix the bugs mentioned in the comments"*
- *"Implement the API endpoints described in the integration task"*

**Time Tracking & Productivity:**
- *"Book 2 hours for the client meeting on the XYZ project"*
- *"How much time did I spend on development tasks this week?"*
- *"Log 30 minutes for code review on the authentication feature"*

**Smart Search & Discovery:**
- *"What task did I mention the CSV import in?"*
- *"Find all tasks related to the payment gateway integration"*
- *"Show me tasks where users reported login issues"*

**Daily Workflow Management:**
- *"What do I need to do today?"*
- *"Create a task for fixing the dashboard bug in the frontend list"*
- *"Update the API documentation task to 'in review' status"*
- *"What tasks are blocking the mobile app release?"*

**Rich Context & Collaboration:**
- *"Show me all comments on the user authentication task"*
- *"What's the latest update on the database migration?"*
- *"Add a comment to the design task about the new wireframes"*

**Document Management:**
- *"Find documents about job posting in hauptsache.net space"*
- *"Search for API documentation across all spaces"*
- *"Read the API documentation in the development space"*
- *"Create a new requirements document for the mobile app project"*
- *"Update the meeting notes with today's decisions"*
- *"What documents are in the product strategy space?"*

## Key Features

### 🔍 **Intelligent Search**
- Fuzzy matching across task names, descriptions, and comments
- Multi-language search support for international teams
- Filter by assignees, projects, status, and metadata

### 💬 **Complete Context**
- Full comment histories and team discussions
- Task descriptions with embedded images  
- List descriptions and project guidelines
- Document content with page navigation
- Access to complete task history and decisions

### ⏱️ **Time Tracking**
- Log time entries with descriptions
- View historical time logs and entries
- Query time entries by task or date range

### 📋 **Task & Document Management**
- Create and update tasks with markdown descriptions
- Create, read, and update documents and pages
- Add comments and collaborate with team members
- Manage priorities, due dates, assignees, and tags
- Handle time estimates and custom field values

### 🔒 **Safety Features**
- **Append-Only Descriptions**: Description fields are never overwritten - new content is safely appended with timestamps
- **Normal Field Updates**: Status, priority, assignees, tags, and dates can be updated normally (easily revertible through ClickUp's history)

## Installation

### Prerequisites

For all installation methods, you'll need:
- Your `CLICKUP_API_KEY` (Profile Icon > Settings > Apps > API Token ~ usually starts with pk_)
- Your `CLICKUP_TEAM_ID` (The 7–10 digit number in the URL when you are in the settings)

### Option 1: MCPB Bundle (Recommended for Claude Desktop)

Download the pre-built bundle from our [releases page](https://github.com/hauptsacheNet/clickup-mcp/releases). This method requires no Node.js installation.

You'll get a configuration screen where you are prompted to enter your API key and team ID.

### Option 2: NPX Installation

This method automatically updates to the latest version and is preferred for users who want the newest features.

**For Claude Desktop, Windsurf, Cursor and others:**

Add the following to your MCP configuration file:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "clickup": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@hauptsache.net/clickup-mcp@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CLICKUP_API_KEY": "your_api_key",
        "CLICKUP_TEAM_ID": "your_team_id"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Replace `your_api_key` and `your_team_id` with your actual ClickUp credentials.

**Where to add this configuration:**
- **Claude Desktop**: Settings > Developer > Edit Config
- **Windsurf**: Add to your MCP configuration file
- **Cursor**: Configure through the MCP settings panel

### Option 3: Coding Tools Integration

**Claude Code (CLI):**
```bash
claude mcp add --scope user clickup \
  --env CLICKUP_API_KEY=YOUR_KEY \
  --env CLICKUP_TEAM_ID=YOUR_ID \
  --env CLICKUP_MCP_MODE=read-minimal \
  --env MAX_IMAGES=16 \
  --env MAX_RESPONSE_SIZE_MB=4 \
  -- npx -y @hauptsache.net/clickup-mcp
```

> Claude Code can handle a lot of images, thus the recommended increased limits.
 
> Note the `CLICKUP_MCP_MODE=read-minimal`. This is my usage recommendation, but feel free to use one of the other modes.

**OpenAI Codex:**
Add these lines to your `~/.codex/config.toml` file:
```toml
[mcp_servers.clickup]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@hauptsache.net/clickup-mcp@latest"]
env = { "CLICKUP_API_KEY" = "YOUR_KEY", "CLICKUP_TEAM_ID" = "YOUR_ID", "CLICKUP_MCP_MODE" = "read-minimal" }
```

> Codex seems to not be able to handle images from MCP's. See [this issue](https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/3741) for more details.

> Note the `CLICKUP_MCP_MODE=read-minimal`. This is my usage recommendation, but feel free to use one of the other modes.

## MCP Modes & Available Tools

The ClickUp MCP supports three operational modes to balance functionality, security, and performance:

- **🚀 `read-minimal`**: Perfect for AI coding assistants and context gathering
- **📖 `read`**: Full read-only access for project exploration and workflow understanding  
- **✏️ `write`** (Default): Complete functionality for task management and productivity workflows

| Tool                   | read-minimal | read | write | Description                                                                             |
|------------------------|:------------:|:----:|:-----:|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `getTaskById`          |      ✅       |  ✅   |   ✅   | Get complete task details including comments, images, and metadata                      |
| `addComment`           |      ❌       |  ❌   |   ✅   | Add comments to tasks for collaboration                                                 |
| `updateTask`           |      ❌       |  ❌   |   ✅   | Update tasks (status, priority, assignees, etc.) with **SAFE APPEND-ONLY** descriptions |
| `createTask`           |      ❌       |  ❌   |   ✅   | Create new tasks with full markdown support                                             |
| `searchTasks`          |      ✅       |  ✅   |   ✅   | Find tasks by content, keywords, assignees, or project context                          |
| `searchSpaces`         |      ❌       |  ✅   |   ✅   | Browse workspace structure, project organization, and documents                         |
| `getListInfo`          |      ❌       |  ✅   |   ✅   | Get list details and available statuses for task creation                               |
| `updateListInfo`       |      ❌       |  ❌   |   ✅   | **SAFE APPEND-ONLY** updates to list descriptions (preserves existing content)          |
| `getTimeEntries`       |      ❌       |  ✅   |   ✅   | View time entries and analyze time spent across projects                                |
| `createTimeEntry`      |      ❌       |  ❌   |   ✅   | Log time entries for task tracking                                                      |
| `readDocument`         |      ❌       |  ✅   |   ✅   | Get document details, page structure, and content with navigation                       |
| `searchDocuments`      |      ❌       |  ✅   |   ✅   | Search documents by name and space with fuzzy matching and space filtering              |
| `updateDocumentPage`   |      ❌       |  ❌   |   ✅   | Update existing page content or name with replace/append modes                          |
| `createDocumentOrPage` |      ❌       |  ❌   |   ✅   | Create new documents with first page, or add pages/sub-pages to existing documents      |

### Setting the Mode

Add the mode to your MCP configuration:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "clickup": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@hauptsache.net/clickup-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "CLICKUP_API_KEY": "your_api_key",
        "CLICKUP_TEAM_ID": "your_team_id",
        "CLICKUP_MCP_MODE": "read"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Configuration

This MCP server can be configured using environment variables:

- `CLICKUP_API_KEY`: (Required) Your ClickUp API key.
- `CLICKUP_TEAM_ID`: (Required) Your ClickUp Team ID (formerly Workspace ID).
- `CLICKUP_MCP_MODE`: (Optional) Controls which tools are available. Options: `read-minimal`, `read`, `write` (default).
- `MAX_IMAGES`: (Optional) The maximum number of images to return for a task in `getTaskById`. Defaults to 4.
- `MAX_RESPONSE_SIZE_MB`: (Optional) The maximum response size in megabytes for `getTaskById`. Uses intelligent size budgeting to fit the most important images within the limit. Defaults to 1.
- `CLICKUP_PRIMARY_LANGUAGE`: (Optional) A hint for the primary language used in your ClickUp tasks (e.g., "de" for German, "en" for English). This helps the `searchTask` tool provide more tailored guidance in its description for multilingual searches.
- `LANG`: (Optional) If `CLICKUP_PRIMARY_LANGUAGE` is not set, the MCP will check this standard environment variable (e.g., "en_US.UTF-8", "de_DE") as a fallback to infer the primary language.

### Language-Aware Search Guidance

The `searchTask` tool's description will dynamically adjust based on the detected primary language:
- If `CLICKUP_PRIMARY_LANGUAGE` or `LANG` suggests a known primary language (e.g., German), the tool's description will specifically recommend providing search terms in both English and that detected language (e.g., German) for optimal results.
- If no primary language is detected, a more general recommendation for multilingual workspaces will be provided.

This feature aims to improve search effectiveness when the language of user queries (often English) differs from the language of the tasks in ClickUp, without making the MCP itself perform translations. The responsibility for providing bilingual search terms still lies with the agent calling the MCP, but the MCP offers more specific advice if it has a language hint.

## Markdown Formatting Support

Task descriptions and list documentation support full markdown formatting:

### Examples

**Task Creation with Markdown:**
```
Create a task called "API Integration" with description:
# API Integration Requirements

## Authentication
- Implement OAuth 2.0 flow
- Add JWT token validation
- **Priority**: High security standards

## Endpoints
1. `/api/users` - User management
2. `/api/data` - Data retrieval
3. `/api/webhook` - Event notifications

## Testing
- [ ] Unit tests for auth flow
- [ ] Integration tests
- [ ] Load testing with 1000+ concurrent users

> **Note**: This replaces the legacy REST implementation

See related task: https://app.clickup.com/t/abc123
```

**Append-Only Updates (Safe):**
When updating task descriptions, content is safely appended:
```markdown
[Existing task description content]

---
**Edit (2024-01-15):** Added new acceptance criteria based on client feedback:
- Must support mobile responsive design
- Performance requirement: < 2s load time
```

This ensures no existing content is ever lost while maintaining a clear audit trail.

## Performance & Limitations

**Optimized for AI Workflows:**
- **Smart Image Processing**: Intelligent size budgeting prioritizes the most recent images while respecting both count (`MAX_IMAGES`, default: 4) and total response size limits (`MAX_RESPONSE_SIZE_MB`, default: 1MB)
- **Search Scope**: Searches within the most recent 1000-3000 tasks to prevent running into rate limits (exact number varies by endpoint)
- **Search Results**: Returns up to 50 most relevant matches to prevent flooding the agent with too many results

**Current Scope:**
- Focused on task-level operations rather than bulk workspace management
- Optimized for conversational AI workflows rather than data migration
- Designed for productivity enhancement, not administrative operations

These limitations ensure reliable performance while covering the most common use cases for both development context and productivity management.

## License

MIT