A Beginner's Guide to MCP Servers

By Home and Learn · Last updated 31 July 2026

One aspect of Agentic AIs you need to know about is something called an MCP server. MCP servers let an AI assistant such as Codex work with other software and services. In this tutorial, you will learn what MCP means, why it is useful, and how to connect Codex to Blender.

We will finish by asking Codex to create a simple wooden stool inside Blender. If that hasn't sunk in, just think about it - you're going to create a 3D model by typing a prompt into Codex! You'll be creating this:

Let's make a start.

What is an MCP server?

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol.

MCP is a standard way for an AI assistant to communicate with other software and services.

MCP servers can also provide external tools used through Codex plugins. To learn how those reusable packages are put together, follow our beginner tutorial on creating a Codex plugin.

Normally, Codex cannot automatically see what is happening inside a program such as Blender. It also cannot create or change Blender objects by itself. An MCP server provides Codex with a set of approved tools for working with that program.

For example:

You → Codex → Blender MCP server → Blender

This is what happens:

• You ask Codex to create or inspect something in Blender.
• Codex selects a suitable tool provided by the Blender MCP server.
• The server passes the request to Blender.
• Blender completes the action.
• The server returns information about the result to Codex.

An MCP server may provide:

• Tools: Actions Codex can perform, such as creating an object or applying a material.
• Resources: Information Codex can read, such as documentation or details about a Blender scene.
• Instructions: Guidance that explains how Codex should use the server and its tools.

The word server can sound more complicated than it is. An MCP server may be an online service, but it can also be a small program running on your own computer. In this tutorial, the Blender MCP server runs locally and acts as the communication link between Codex and Blender.

Why are MCP servers useful?

An AI assistant normally cannot see or control every program on your computer. An MCP server provides a controlled connection to a particular program or service.

This can be useful because it allows the AI to:

• Read live information instead of relying on copied and pasted text.
• Perform actions in another program.
• Check the result of its work.
• Use the same connection repeatedly.
• Work with specialist tools that are not built into the AI assistant.

For example, after connecting Codex to Blender, you can write:

"Create a red sphere and place it above the cube."

Codex can inspect the Blender scene, create the sphere, position it, give it a material, and report what it changed.

A note about safety

MCP servers can be powerful. Some can edit files, change online information, or run code.

Only connect MCP servers that you trust. Read permission requests carefully and save important work before asking an AI to make changes.

It is also sensible to start with small prompts. Inspect the result before moving on to something more complicated.

Examples of MCP servers

Here are some popular examples.

GitHub maintains an official GitHub MCP server, Microsoft provides the Playwright MCP server, and Figma documents its Figma MCP server.

Connecting every available MCP server is not necessary. Each server gives the AI more tools to consider. Start with one that supports a task you genuinely want to do.

Practical work: Connecting Codex to Blender

What is Blender?

Blender is a free, open-source program for making 3D content.

People use it to create:

• 3D models
• Game objects
• Characters
• Materials and textures
• Animations
• Visual effects
• Product images
• Entire animated films

Blender is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

For this exercise, you need Blender 5.1 or later. The Blender MCP extension declares Blender 5.1 as its minimum supported version. You can download Blender from the official Blender download page.

Install Blender before continuing.

How the connection works

The Blender MCP connection has two parts:

Codex
↓
Blender MCP program
↓
Blender MCP extension
↓
Your open Blender file

The MCP program is started by Codex. It communicates with an extension running inside Blender.

Both parts must be set up.

Step 1: Install Git and uv

We're going to need two downloads. You'll need to download Git, if you haven't already. You can get the download here:

https://git-scm.com/install/windows

Once downloaded, it's just a normal program you can install by double clicking in Windows,.

The MCP program uses a small Python package manager called uv. You'll need to install this as well as Git. On Windows, you can use PowerShell. Search for PowerShell in the Search box at the bottom of the Windows desktop:

Once PowerShell is launched, copy and paste this command:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

Close and reopen PowerShell after installing it.

Check that both programs are available:

git --version

uv --version

Each command should display a version number.

Step 2: Download the Blender MCP project

The official Blender MCP project is stored in a Git repository. We need to grab this. So copy these two lines:

Set-Location "$HOME\Documents"

git clone https://projects.blender.org/lab/blender_mcp.git

Paste them into PowerShell, after the > symbol. You may get a warning:

Click Paste anyway. PowerShell will then clone the Blender Git project:

This should create a folder on your computer at this location (obviously change YOUR-NAME for your own computer's username):

C:\Users\YOUR-NAME\Documents\blender_mcp

It should look like this in an Explorer window:

Note that there are two Documents folders. The first one in the image above leads to the OneDrive folder. The second one is a folder on your computer. It's up you which one you choose. But we like to keep it local, on our own computer rather than OneDrive.

(If you get a Git error saying the destination folder already exists, don't keep retrying the command. Either use the existing repository or remove/rename it after confirming it contains no work you need.)

The source code and further information are available from the official Blender MCP project.

Now we need to fiddle with Blender.

Step 3: Install the MCP extension in Blender

1. Open Blender.
2. Select Edit > Preferences.
3. Open the Get Extensions section:

1. Open the extensions repositories menu.
2. Add this Blender Lab repository:

https://lab.blender.org/

1. Search the extensions for MCP.
2. Install and enable the MCP extension. (See below for this.)
3. Enable Allow Online Access in Blender. (See below for this, too.)

Blender's manual explains how to add an extensions repository.

If you have trouble with the above, go to this page on the Blender site:

MCP Server - Blender

There is a link on the page that lets you drag and drop to make the MCP Server extension available in Blender.

You may need to restart Blender. Once you do, go back to the Edit > Preferences dialog box. On the left, click on System. Make sure the box is checked for Allow Online Access.

blender-preferences-system.png

Now click on Add-ons. Then type MCP into the search box at the top:

Expand the MCP item to see the details in the image above. Either enable Auto Start or click Start MCP Bridge Server. Auto Start tells Blender to start the connection whenever Blender opens. If you see a tick at the bottom and the message, "Server is running", you're good to go with Blender. Close down the preferences box but leave Blender open.

Step 4: Add the Blender MCP server to Codex

Now let's go to Codex. We need to be in the Settings screen. So click your username in the bottom left of Codex. Then click the Settings item from the menu that appears. In the Settings screen, on the left, locate the Plugins item. (Some users may have an MCP servers item instead.)

Under Plugins, select the MCP item (the number is how many MCP servers you have set up):

Then click the Add Server button to add a new MCP server.

Enter the following settings.

Name        blender

Type        STDIO

Command     uv

Arguments   --directory

            C:\Users\YOUR-NAME\Documents\blender_mcp\mcp

            run

            blender-mcp

If Codex provides one arguments box rather than separate entries, enter them on one line:

--directory "C:\Users\YOUR-NAME\Documents\blender_mcp\mcp" run blender-mcp

Replace the example path with the real location of your blender_mcp folder:

Save the server and make sure it is selected in the Plugins > MCP page. Fully restart Codex after adding the server.

Phew! Lot of work there! Hopefully, you've got everything working. If so, we'll soon find out. With Blender still open, and the Blender server still running, start a new task in Codex.

Test the connection

Start with a read-only prompt. This checks the connection without changing the scene.

Copy this into Codex:

If the connection is working, Codex should report information such as:

• The Blender filename or save status
• The current scene
• The active workspace
• Objects including Cube, Camera, and Light

If Codex cannot connect, check that:

• Blender is open.
• The MCP extension is enabled.
• The MCP Bridge Server is running.
• The Codex MCP entry is enabled.
• The path to the blender_mcp\mcp folder is correct.
• Codex was restarted after the MCP entry was added.

If Codex tells you everything went well, you can move on and create 3D objects. First, a word about navigating your way around Blender as it can be tricky on first use.

Left Mouse Button

Select things

Middle Mouse Button

Press and hold down your middle mouse button. Keep it held down and move your mouse around. This will rotate the view so you can see your stool from all angles.

PAN

Hold down SHIFT + Middle Mouse Button to Pan.

Zoom

Rotate your middle mouse wheel while it's not pressed down.

With that out of the way, time to have some fun!

Create your first 3D object

Right-click the image above to download the wooden stool reference to your computer. Drag the downloaded image into the Codex prompt box, or click the plus button in the bottom left of the chat window and add the attachment that way. Check that its thumbnail appears before sending the prompt. The image helps Codex understand the shape, proportions, colours, and overall style you want.

Here's a prompt you can enter, to go with you image.

Codex should inspect the scene, remove the requested default objects, and construct the stool from simple Blender shapes.

Complex 3D work may need more than one prompt. You could follow up with:

Make the seat slightly thicker and round its edges more.

Or:

Adjust the three legs so their bottoms all rest at the same height.

Or:

Add a floor beneath the stool and create soft studio lighting.

Here's our stool:

If you want to save your stool model, click File > Save to save it as a Blender file. You can also export it in popular 3D formats like FBX, GLB, OBJ. Saving in these formats means your model can then be imported into other 3D programs or even imported as a game asset in programs like Unity or Unreal.

Where can you go from here?

You now have the beginnings of a useful AI-assisted 3D workflow.

Try asking Codex to create other simple objects:

• A wooden table
• A coffee mug
• A plant pot
• A toy robot
• A treasure chest
• A low-poly tree
• A simple room

You can then explore materials:

• What makes something look like wood?
• How would polished metal behave?
• How can you make glass transparent?
• What settings make plastic look shiny or rough?
• Can you create worn paint or scratched surfaces?

You could also experiment with simple animations:

• Make the stool rotate slowly.
• Move the camera around an object.
• Animate a drawer opening.
• Make a ball bounce.
• Change a light's colour over time.

As your confidence grows, you can try characters, rigging, game assets, product visualisation, or short animated scenes.

The most important habit is to work in small steps. Ask Codex to inspect the scene, make one clear change, and then check the result before continuing.

But that's it for MCP servers. Search the internet for the term "Most popular MCP servers" and you can see how huge the topic is.