Connect Cursor

Cursor reads MCP server configuration from a JSON file — either project-scoped or global.

Steps#

1. Create or open .cursor/mcp.json in your project root (or ~/.cursor/mcp.json for a global config that applies to every project).

2. Add a picx entry:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "picx": {
         "url": "https://mcp.picxstudio.com/",
         "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer pxsk_YOUR_KEY" }
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Replace pxsk_YOUR_KEY with a real key from API Keys. Or omit the headers block entirely and connect over OAuth — Cursor opens a browser sign-in on first connect, no key in the file.

4. Save the file. Cursor picks up MCP config changes automatically — reopen the MCP panel (or restart Cursor) to confirm PicX's 19 tools appear.

Ask Cursor's agent to "generate an image of a red apple on a white background" to verify end-to-end. A successful call charges real credits, so this is a real (if small) spend, not a dry run.

Common mistakes#

The URL must be the bare root — https://mcp.picxstudio.com/ — not .../mcp or .../sse. Those paths don't exist on the server.

If .cursor/mcp.json already has other mcpServers entries, merge the picx key into the existing object rather than replacing the file — overwriting it removes every other MCP server you've configured.

Project-scoped vs. global config#

Location	Applies to
<project>/.cursor/mcp.json	Only that project
~/.cursor/mcp.json	Every project opened in Cursor

Use the project-scoped file if different projects need different PicX API keys (e.g. separate dev/prod accounts); use the global file if one key covers all your work.

FAQ#

Does Cursor need to restart to pick up config changes?#

Usually not — Cursor watches mcp.json and reconnects automatically. If tools don't appear after a save, reopen the MCP panel or restart as a fallback.

Can I use environment variable substitution for the API key instead of a literal string?#

Not in the mcp.json file itself — Cursor's MCP config doesn't support ${VAR} substitution for header values. Store the literal key in the file and keep the file out of version control (add .cursor/mcp.json to .gitignore if it contains a real key).