---
title: "Local install"
description: "Install Basic Memory locally and choose where notes live."
canonical_url: "https://docs.basicmemory.com/local/local-install"
---
# Local install

> Install Basic Memory locally and choose where notes live.

Local mode runs the MCP server on your machine and stores notes in local folders you control.

<note>

Followed [Quickstart: Local](https://docs.basicmemory.com/start-here/quickstart-local)? You've already done this — continue to [Set Up Local Projects](https://docs.basicmemory.com/local/getting-started) or [CLI Basics](https://docs.basicmemory.com/local/cli-basics).

</note>

## Install the CLI

<code-group>

```bash [uv]
uv tool install basic-memory
```

```bash [homebrew]
brew tap basicmachines-co/basic-memory
brew trust basicmachines-co/basic-memory
brew install basic-memory
```

</code-group>

<note>

If you install with Homebrew: `brew trust` tells Homebrew you accept code from this third-party tap. Recent Homebrew versions warn about untrusted taps, and Homebrew 6 will require the trust step before installing or upgrading from them. On older Homebrew versions the command doesn't exist yet — just skip it.

</note>

## Connect your MCP client

Configure your MCP client to run the local server. For Claude Desktop, add this to `claude_desktop_config.json` ([file locations per platform](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations/claude-desktop#local-setup)):

```json [claude_desktop_config.json]
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "basic-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["basic-memory", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

<note>

**Installed with Homebrew?** Use `"command": "basic-memory", "args": ["mcp"]` instead — `uvx` only exists if you installed uv. If your client can't find the command, use the full path (`which basic-memory`).

</note>

Restart your MCP client after editing the config. Other clients — Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini — are covered in [Integrations](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations).

## Choose where notes live

By default, notes are stored in a `main` project under `~/basic-memory` — see [Set Up Local Projects](https://docs.basicmemory.com/local/getting-started) to point Basic Memory at any folder.

## Next steps

<card-group>
<card icon="i-lucide-terminal" title="CLI Basics" to="https://docs.basicmemory.com/local/cli-basics">

Learn common commands for projects, notes, and search.

</card>

<card icon="i-lucide-folder" title="Projects and Folders" to="https://docs.basicmemory.com/concepts/projects-and-folders">

Organize notes with projects and folder structure.

</card>
</card-group>


## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://docs.basicmemory.com/sitemap.md) for all pages.