Claude Code on WSL

Claude Code — MCP Setup

MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers extend Claude Code with external tools. I do not keep a global MCP server enabled by default. Figma Desktop remains available as an optional, project-specific integration.

Optional: Figma Desktop

Reads Figma design files directly from the Figma Desktop app running locally. Provides design context (layout, styles, components, variables) for accurate design-to-code implementation.

This is project-specific on my machine, not a global default.

Prerequisites

Figma Desktop app must be installed and running
Enable the local MCP server: Figma Desktop → Settings → Developer → Enable MCP
On WSL2, mirrored networking; see below

WSL2 networking

Figma Desktop runs on Windows, and its MCP server listens on Windows’ 127.0.0.1:3845. In WSL2’s default NAT networking mode, 127.0.0.1 inside WSL is the Linux VM, so Claude Code cannot reach that server. Mirrored mode (Windows 11 22H2 or later) shares localhost between Windows and WSL.

This is a Windows-side change that affects every WSL distribution. Back up %UserProfile%\.wslconfig, then merge this into its [wsl2] section:

[wsl2]
networkingMode=mirrored

Run wsl --shutdown from PowerShell or Command Prompt, reopen the distribution, and check the port while Figma Desktop is running:

curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}\n' --max-time 5 http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp

Any status other than 000 means WSL reaches the server. To undo, restore the previous .wslconfig and run wsl --shutdown again.

Install

claude mcp add --transport http figma-desktop http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp

Connects to the MCP server embedded in Figma Desktop at localhost:3845.

What it can do

Read component structure, layout, spacing, and colours from any open Figma file
Extract design tokens and variable definitions
Generate code matching a selected frame or component
Map Figma components to codebase components (Code Connect)

Example prompt

Implement the ProfileCard component from this Figma URL to match the design exactly.

Troubleshooting

Figma Desktop MCP not connecting

Confirm Figma Desktop is running and the MCP server option is enabled in Settings.
From WSL2, a 000 result from the port check usually means NAT networking; see WSL2 networking.
The server only listens on 127.0.0.1:3845 — it won’t work if Figma isn’t open.
Restart Figma Desktop after enabling the setting.

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