ReadwiseSAFE
Readwise MCP
Overview
From the repository's own README, as read at the audited commit. Badges and raw HTML are left out.
This MCP server is deprecated. Please use the new Readwise MCP server instead: [readwise.io/mcp](https://readwise.io/mcp) The new server is hosted — no local installation needed. It supports both Readwise and Reader data, and works with Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible app.
Migration
Replace your existing claude_desktop_config.json entry with the new server. Setup instructions for all clients are at [readwise.io/mcp](https://readwise.io/mcp).
If you also want CLI access and agent skills, see [readwise.io/cli](https://readwise.io/cli).
Legacy Installation (not recommended)
Click to expand old installation instructions
Installation in Claude
- Please make sure you have Node installed.
- Open Claude desktop app.
- Navigate to Settings > Developer.
- Click
Edit Config. - Add the following entry to the
claude_desktop_config.jsonfile, replacingACCESS_TOKENvalue with your Readwise Access Token.
{
"mcpServers": {
"Readwise MCP": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@readwise/readwise-mcp"
],
"env": {
"ACCESS_TOKEN": "XXXXXXXXX"
}
}
}
}Troubleshooting
For general troubleshooting guidance, please refer to the official Model Context Protocol Claude Desktop Troubleshooting section.
"Could not attach to MCP server Readwise MCP"
A very likely reason for this to happen is that you have an incorrect npx/Node version set up. If you're using nvm, try running nvm use 18 in your terminal. If not, consider reinstalling Node.
Errors when calling Readwise tools
When using this MCP server, you may occasionally encounter MCP errors during your conversations with Claude. If you experience such errors, we r
141eaf540864OBSERVED · 2026-10-07Connect
Built from this server's own package name, version and transport as found in its source — not copied from anyone's documentation, so it cannot drift against a page we do not control. Replace the environment placeholders with a token scoped to the least it needs.
claude mcp add readwise-mcp --env ACCESS_TOKEN=${ACCESS_TOKEN} -- npx -y @readwise/[email protected]{
"mcpServers": {
"readwise-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@readwise/[email protected]"
],
"env": {
"ACCESS_TOKEN": "${ACCESS_TOKEN}"
}
}
}
}Exposed tools (1)
1 read · 0 write · 0 destructive.
| Tool | Risk | Description |
|---|---|---|
search_readwise_highlights | read |
Trust audit
SAFEgrade B · trust 89/100 Nothing in the source contradicts what it says it does. Grade A is reserved for packages that have also passed the behavioural sandbox.
| Layer | What it checks | Result |
|---|---|---|
| L0 | Provenance & inventory | PASS |
| L1 | Static analysis of the code | PASS |
| L2 | Instruction surface (what it tells the agent) | PASS |
| L3 | Class-specific surface | PASS |
| L4 | Behavioural (sandbox) | SKIPPED |
What the source does
- Filesystem
- none-observed
- Network
- declared (5 observation(s))
- Shell
- none-observed
- Dependencies
- not all pinned
- Secrets in source
- none-found
Findings (2)
.pre-commit-config.yaml
@modelcontextprotocol/sdk, axios, axios-retry, zod, @eslint/js, @modelcontextprotocol/inspector, eslint, ts-node
Gates applied: no_behavioural_pass.
141eaf540864full audit observations/trust-audit/mcp-server/readwiseio__readwise-1.json · Report an issue / request a re-scanAudit history
Every audit this server has had. A grade with a past is a grade somebody is still checking.
| Date | Source | Verdict | Grade | Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-07 | 141eaf540864 | SAFE | B | 89 | first audit |
Questions
What is the Readwise MCP server?
Readwise MCP
What tools does Readwise expose?
1 in total: 1 read-only, 0 that write, and 0 that can delete or overwrite. Every one is listed on this page with its risk.
Is Readwise safe to connect to an agent?
The audit found nothing in the source that contradicts what it says it does, and graded it B (89/100). Grade A is held back for packages that have also passed a sandboxed behavioural run, which is why a clean server reads B.
What credentials does Readwise need?
It reads ACCESS_TOKEN from the environment. Give it a token scoped to the least it needs — an agent that can be talked into calling a tool can be talked into calling it with your credentials.
How does Readwise run?
It speaks stdio, so it runs as a local process your client starts. It is published on npm as @readwise/readwise-mcp at 0.0.8.
How current is this page?
The grade is for one exact copy of the source (141eaf540864), read on 2026-10-07. The repository is watched and re-audited when it changes.