1. Pre-install the package: Run the command once in a terminal so the download is cached. 2. Raise the timeout (Claude Code): Claude Code reads MCP_TIMEOUT (startup) and MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS. 3. Pin a version: Using @latest makes npx check the registry every launch. Pinning a version avoids that.

"MCP error -32001: Request timed out"

Claude DesktopClaude CodeCursor

The error

McpError: MCP error -32001: Request timed out

Why it happens

The client gave up waiting. On first run, npx/uvx may still be downloading the package. Slow tools (browser automation, big crawls) can also go over the default timeout.

How to fix it

Pre-install the package
Run the command once in a terminal so the download is cached.
```
npx -y @playwright/mcp@latest --help
```
Raise the timeout (Claude Code)
Claude Code reads MCP_TIMEOUT (startup) and MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS.
```
MCP_TIMEOUT=30000 claude
```
Pin a version
Using @latest makes npx check the registry every launch. Pinning a version avoids that.

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Sources

https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/mcp
https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/tools/debugging
MCP error -32001: Request timed out (GitHub issue, 7 comments)
"Error: MCP error -32001: Request timed out" (GitHub issue, 17 comments)