aws / aws/amazon-q-developer-cli

MCP not working with Kiro-cli, but works with kiro-cli --classic

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Dominant language
Rust
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Description

### Checks

- [x] I have searched [github.com/aws/amazon-q-developer-cli/issues](https://github.com/aws/amazon-q-developer-cli/issues?q=) and there are no duplicates of my issue
- [x] I have run `q doctor` in the affected terminal session
- [x] I have run `q restart` and replicated the issue again

### Operating system

macOS 26.6.1 (25G76)

### Expected behaviour

The mcp servers are configured in my root folder . `~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json`
however, when i start kiro-cli, none of the mcp servers are picked.

the issue is resolved when i use `kiro-cli --classic` classic mode.

Image

### Actual behaviour

MCP server are not loaded with kiro-cli, but works fine in classic mode. both were launched from the same path.

### Steps to reproduce

_No response_

### Environment

```yaml

[q-details]
version = "2.18.1"
hash = "74b78bb5a369788e393b06654b2b213d937a41d2"
date = "2026-08-13T23:20:56.707604Z (5d ago)"
variant = "full"

[system-info]
os = "macOS 26.6.1 (25G76)"
chip = "Apple M1 Pro"
total-cores = 10
memory = "32.00 GB"

[environment]
cwd = "/Users/USER/Documents/TAB/CI_CD"
cli-path = "/Users/USER/Documents/TAB/CI_CD"
os = "Mac"
shell-path = "/bin/zsh"
shell-version = "5.9"
terminal = "iTerm 2"
install-method = "unknown"

[env-vars]
PATH = "/Users/USER/.nvm/versions/node/v22.21.1/bin:/Users/USER/.antigravity/antigravity/bin:/Users/USER/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools:/Users/USER/.rbenv/shims:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin:/pkg/env/global/bin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/Applications/iTerm.app/Contents/Resources/utilities:/Users/USER/.local/bin"
QTERM_SESSION_ID = "e9fb435cd4f847a3883e0c8c107546e0"
Q_SET_PARENT_CHECK = "1"
Q_TERM = "2.18.1"
SHELL = "/bin/zsh"
TERM = "xterm-256color"
__CFBundleIdentifier = "com.googlecode.iterm2"
```

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the issue with the reported ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json configuration in kiro-cli 2.18.1, then compare the MCP loading behavior with kiro-cli --classic from the same directory. Use q doctor and q restart as reported; done means the configured MCP servers load in the default mode as they do in classic mode.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
rust
Domain
cli
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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