How to setup Trello MCP server with Claude and Cursor for efficient task tracking

Trello is great for keeping projects on track, but it can quickly fill up with cards, long comment threads, and checklists that all need attention. With so much going on, it is easy to lose track of priorities or what should happen next.

Trello MCP server makes it simpler. It links Claude and Cursor directly to your Trello boards through Composio, allowing them to work with your actual cards, lists, and comments instantly. The AI understands what is happening and can jump straight into helping without requiring any preparation on your part.

In this post, you will learn how to set it up and use it to make Trello updates, planning, and follow-ups much easier.

What is MCP?

Think of MCP as a bridge that connects all your SaaS tools to your AI agent. It acts like an adapter, enabling your AI agent (Client) to understand and interact with your tools.

According to Anthropic (the team behind Claude and MCP),

“MCP is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications. Just as USB-C provides a standardized way to connect your devices to various peripherals and accessories, MCP provides a standardized way to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.”

credits: modelcontextprotocol.io

For more, check out this detailed post or MCP components: MCP Explained.

What is Trello MCP?

Trello MCP is a secure connection, powered by Composio, that enables Claude and similar AI assistants to work directly with your Trello boards. Once connected, they can view the identical cards, lists, and comments you do and respond based on real information, rather than copied snippets.

What can you do with the Trello MCP server?

• Read boards, lists, and cards, including members, labels, due dates, checklists, and comments

• Create new cards with titles, descriptions, labels, and due dates

• Update card details such as descriptions, due dates, and labels, or move them to another list

• Search across cards and boards to quickly find what you need

• Add comments directly to a card conversation

• Look up who is assigned to cards or participating on boards

It turns Trello into a live workspace for your AI, enabling it to help you summarise updates, plan tasks, assign work, and keep projects moving without extra steps.

Setting up Trello MCP with Claude

Connecting Trello to Claude takes only a few minutes. Once it is set up, Claude can pull details from your boards, understand the context of your work, and even post updates back into Trello for you.

What you need before starting

Make sure you have:

• Claude Desktop

  Download it from claude.ai/download and install it on your computer.

• Node.js

  This is needed to run the setup command. Check if you already have it by typing node -v in a terminal. If you do not, download it from nodejs.org.

Step 1: Get the setup command from Composio

• Visit mcp.composio.dev

• Search for Trello and open the integration page

• Switch to the Claude tab

• Copy the setup command shown, which will look like this:

npx @composio/mcp@latest setup "<https://mcp.composio.dev/partner/composio/trello/mcp?customerId=><your_customer_id>" "" --client

Step 2: What you can do with Trello MCP

Once Trello MCP is connected, Claude can use a set of ready-to-go actions inside your boards. Here are some of the most useful:

1. Create new cards in any list on a board

2. Move cards between lists to match your workflow

3. Add comments to cards to share updates or ask questions

4. Assign or remove members from cards

5. Add or remove labels and due dates

6. Create and edit checklists inside cards

7. Search for cards across all boards you can access

8. Create new lists on a board and move cards into them

9. Update card titles and descriptions

10. Archive or delete cards when they are finished or no longer needed

These are all available right away, so you can start automating updates, finding information faster, and keeping boards organised without doing it all manually.

Step 3: Connect Trello from the Claude config folder

• Open Claude Desktop

• Go to File > Settings, then choose Developer > Edit Config

• This will open the Claude config folder on your computer

  • On Windows, it is usually here:

C:\\Users\\<your_username>\\AppData\\Roaming\\

• In that folder, open a terminal window

• Paste the setup command you copied in Step 1 and run it

npx @composio/mcp@latest setup "<https://mcp.composio.dev/partner/composio/trello/mcp?customerId=><your_customer_id>" "" --client

• A browser window will open asking you to sign in to Trello and approve the connection.

• After you confirm, you will see a success message in both the browser and your terminal.

Step 4: Confirm the connection (optional)

If you want to double-check that Trello MCP is linked to Claude, open the file claude_desktop_config.json in the same config folder.

You should see Trello listed under "clients". This means the connection is active.

Step 5: Restart Claude

Close the Claude Desktop completely and open it again. This refreshes the settings so Trello MCP is ready to use. Once it starts, you can begin asking Claude to work with your Trello boards right away.

Use case: Summarise card updates and post next steps

Trello cards can collect a lot of activity, updates, decisions, questions, and checklists, which often get mixed together in the comment thread. When you return to a card after a while, it can take some time to read everything and determine what still needs to happen.

With Trello MCP connected, you can ask Claude or Cursor to read the latest activity on a card, extract the key details, and post a clear follow-up right inside that card.

Example prompt

Look at the recent comments on the card “Product Launch Prep”

Summarise the discussion, highlight any open questions and post a follow up in the card

What happens in the background

Claude uses Trello MCP to fetch the comments from that card, sorts through the updates, and writes a short reply with the key points and next steps. It then posts that reply directly as a new comment so the whole team can see it.

▶️ Watch it in action

This video shows Claude reading a real Trello card thread, summarising key updates and posting a proper follow-up in the same conversation. It all happens inside the prompt, using live Trello data, without requiring any manual preparation.

Setting up Trello MCP with Cursor

Linking Trello to Cursor only takes a few minutes. Once it is connected, you can use real board and card data directly inside your prompts without having to copy anything over.

Step 1: Visit the Composio MCP dashboard

Go to mcp.composio.dev and search for Trello. Click the integration to open its details.

Switch to the Cursor tab and click Generate URL. This will give you the exact setup command you need.

Step 2: Copy the command

It will look something like this:

npx @composio/mcp@latest setup "<https://mcp.composio.dev/partner/composio/trello/mcp?customerId=><your_customer_id>" "" --client

Step 3: Run the command in the Cursor

Open the Cursor and start a terminal in your current project. Paste the command and press Enter.

A browser window will open asking you to sign in to Trello and approve the connection. Follow the prompts to confirm access.

Step 4: Look for the success message

When the setup is complete, you will see a confirmation screen in your browser and a message in your terminal indicating that Trello is connected.

Step 5: (Optional) Double-check the connection

If you want to be sure everything is working, open this file:

Trello should be listed under connected services. Once you see that, you are ready to start using Trello data directly in Cursor.

Summary

Trello MCP provides Claude and Cursor with direct access to your boards, lists, and cards via Composio. They can read updates, follow conversations, and make changes without you needing to copy anything over.

The setup takes just a few steps. Once connected, you can ask for summaries, follow-ups, planning help, or quick searches, all using live Trello data. It keeps your workflow moving and makes it easier to stay on top of projects. Check out the Airtable MCP server setup