How to use Asana with Claude and Cursor for effective project management

I use Asana a lot. I review tasks, leave comments, update timelines, and read through long threads. When I need help from an AI, such as summarising updates, writing follow-ups, or planning next steps, I usually have to stop, copy parts of a task into a prompt, and explain the context.

I have done that too many times. It always feels clunky and disconnected.

Asana MCP fixes this. It connects Claude and Cursor directly to your Asana workspace through Composio, allowing them to work with your actual tasks, comments, and project data in real-time. You don’t need to switch tabs, rephrase anything, or explain what just happened in a thread.

In this article, I will show you how to set up Asana MCP and utilise it to make Claude and Cursor more helpful in your daily Asana work.

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 Asana MCP?

Asana MCP is a secure integration powered by Composio that provides Claude and similar tools with real-time access to your Asana workspace through a safe, permissioned interface.

Once connected, Claude can:

• Read tasks and projects: Access task details from any project, including status, due date, comments, and assignee.

• Create tasks: Add new functions with names, due dates, assignees, and descriptions.

• Update tasks: Automatically change task descriptions, due dates, or status based on a prompt.

• Search tasks: Find and surface relevant tasks using keywords or filters.

• Comment on tasks: Post notes, questions, or follow-ups directly in a task thread.

• Fetch user information: Identify who’s assigned to what or personalise task interactions.

This turns Asana into a live data source for tools like Cursor and platforms like Claude, so the assistant can summarise, plan, assign, and report based on actual tasks, projects, and deadlines.

Setting Up Asana MCP with Claude

To connect Asana to Claude, you will need to set up Asana MCP using Composio. Once integrated, Claude can pull tasks, analyse updates, and push follow-ups into your project workflows without extra steps.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have the following:

• Claude Desktop

  Download it from https://claude.ai/download and install it for your OS.

• Node.js

  Needed to run the setup script. Run node -v to check. If missing, install it from https://nodejs.org.

Step 1: Get the Setup Script from Composio

• Go to https://mcp.composio.dev

• Search for Asana and open the integration page

• Switch to the Claude tab and find the setup script:

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

Copy the script; you will need it shortly.

Step 2: What Can You Do with Asana MCP?

These actions are enabled by default in the Asana MCP integration and are ready to use once the connection is active:

1. Add followers to a task and create comments to keep your teammates informed.

2. Create subtasks and add them to sections to organise work within projects.

3. Create new sections in projects and move tasks to the correct location.

4. Post project status updates to share progress or highlight blockers.

5. Create and delete custom fields, and add new enum options to track specific info.

6. Upload and remove attachments from tasks.

7. Link tasks, projects, or portfolios to goals using supporting relationships.

8. Create, delete, and retrieve allocations to manage who is assigned to what and for how long.

9. Delete tasks, projects, and tags when they are no longer needed.

10. Duplicate tasks and projects to reuse templates or repeat workflows.

Step 3: Connect Asana from the Claude Config Folder

• Launch Claude Desktop

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

• This opens the config folder. On Windows, it is typically:

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

• In that folder, open a terminal window

• Paste and run the setup script from Step 1

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

• You will be prompted to authenticate with Asana and grant the required permissions.

  

• Once successful, you will see a confirmation screen.

  

• Then, you can find this message in the terminal.

  

Step 4: Confirm the Connection (Optional)

Open claude_desktop_config.json in the same config directory. You should see an entry for Asana under "clients" Confirming the integration.

Step 5: Restart Claude

Close and relaunch Claude Desktop to activate the Asana MCP integration. Once it restarts, open the Claude panel to confirm that the integration is live.

Use Case: Summarise Updates and Post Follow-Ups in Asana

Long task threads in Asana often include status updates, questions, decisions, and next steps, all of which are mixed. When you are catching up or trying to respond, it takes time to read through everything and figure out what to do.

With Asana MCP connected, you can ask Claude or Cursor to read the latest activity on a task, pull out the key points, and post a clear summary or response, right in the same thread.

Prompt Example

Look at the recent comments on the task “Website Launch Prep.”

Summarize the discussion, highlight any open questions, and post a follow-up in the thread.

What’s Happening in the Background

Claude uses Asana MCP to fetch task comments and activity from that task. It reads the thread, identifies the essential details, and writes a short reply with next steps or open issues—then posts it directly as a comment.

▶️ Watch It in Action

This video shows Claude reading a real task thread in Asana, summarising key updates, and posting a clean, useful response in the same conversation, without any copying and pasting or switching tabs.

Setting Up Asana MCP with Cursor

Connecting Asana to Cursor takes just a few minutes and unlocks the ability to use real tasks, comments, and project data directly inside your prompts.

Here is how to get it working:

Step 1: Visit the Composio MCP Dashboard

Go to https://mcp.composio.dev and type Asana into the search bar. Click on the integration to open the details.

Once you are there, switch to the Cursor tab and click “Generate URL”. This view gives you the exact setup command you will need.

Step 2: Copy the Command

You will see a script that looks like this:

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

Step 3: Run the Script in Cursor

Open the Cursor and launch a terminal inside your current project. Paste the command and run it.

A browser window will open asking you to sign in to Asana and approve the connection. Follow the steps to grant access.

Step 4: Watch for Success

Once the setup is complete, you will see a confirmation screen in your browser and a message in the terminal indicating that the connection is live.

At this point, Asana is now linked to Cursor and available for real-time interaction through MCP.

Step 5: (Optional) Double-Check the Connection

If you want to confirm everything is set up correctly, open this file:

You should see Asana listed under connected services. Now you are ready to start using Cursor with your actual Asana data.

Summary

Asana MCP enables Claude and Cursor to access your workspace directly. They can read tasks, check updates, follow threads, and interact with real project data as it exists in Asana.

The setup takes just a few steps using Composio. Once connected, you can utilise these tools to stay on top of projects, respond more quickly, and work with complete context, all without switching between apps or manually copying information.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I manage my Asana connection after setup?

You can access the Composio dashboard to view, rename, or update your Asana connection at any time. Everything is organised in one place for easy access.

2. What kind of Asana data can Claude or Cursor use?

They can work with tasks, projects, comments, due dates, and assignee information just like what you see in your workspace. They use only the data you have access to.

3. Does this work across different types of projects and teams?

Yes. It works with personal tasks, shared projects, and team spaces. As long as you have access to the content, Claude and Cursor can use it too.

4. Can I adjust which actions are available through MCP?

Yes. You have full control over which actions are active. You can keep it focused on the features that matter most to your workflow.

5. Do I need to repeat the setup if I use both Claude and Cursor?

Each tool has its own setup step, but once connected, they can both use the same Asana workspace. You only need to link Asana once per tool.