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MCP server · by github

Developer Tools Streamable HTTP

GitHub's official MCP Server

View source ↗ Generate config for multiple servers More servers

Install

Pin version unavailable — this listing has no version info in the registry

Remote (hosted by GitHub, OAuth or PAT)
https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/

Local (Docker)
docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server

Setup by client

Pick your client — the config below is generated for this server (both local and hosted-endpoint forms). Copy respects the “Pin version” switch above.

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<YOUR_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Remote (hosted) endpoint

https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/

Claude Desktop: Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector, paste this URL.

Format verified against the official Claude Desktop docs ↗.

terminal

claude mcp add --env GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=<YOUR_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN> github -- docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server

terminal

claude mcp add --transport http github https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/

Format verified against the official Claude Code docs ↗.

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<YOUR_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}

.cursor/mcp.json (hosted endpoint)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

Format verified against the official Cursor docs ↗.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<YOUR_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}

.vscode/mcp.json (hosted endpoint)

{
  "servers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

Format verified against the official VS Code docs ↗.

mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<YOUR_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}

mcp_config.json (hosted endpoint)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "serverUrl": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

Format verified against the official Windsurf docs ↗.

Environment variables

Defined in the server's official registry manifest. Required secrets are shown as <YOUR_…> placeholders in the configs above.

GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN required secret — GitHub PAT (fine-grained recommended). Enables token auth instead of OAuth; takes precedence over OAuth on the remote server and is required for the local Docker server. Grant only the permissions your agent needs. Get it: https://github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens/new
GITHUB_TOOLSETS — Optional CSV allow-list of toolsets (e.g. repos,issues,pull_requests,actions,code_security). Restricting toolsets reduces context size and improves tool choice. Get it: See the official README toolset list

Official version check

Official · by GitHub

This listing previously pointed at the deprecated npm package @modelcontextprotocol/server-github (last publish 155+ days ago). GitHub's current official server is github/github-mcp-server, which ships as a remote (hosted) endpoint and a local Docker image. The commands below are the current official ones.

Official repo (github/github-mcp-server) ↗ · Remote server docs ↗

What it can do

repos
issues
pull_requests
actions
code_security
discussions
gists
labels
notifications
orgs
projects
users
dependabot
secret_protection
stargazers

Common issues

401 / Unauthorized against the remote endpoint

The remote server at https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ uses OAuth by default. Clients that send an Authorization header must use a PAT as the bearer; GitHub docs note the PAT takes precedence over OAuth. Source: github.com/github/github-mcp-server ↗

The model picks the wrong tool / context is too large

Pass an allow-list with --toolsets (e.g. repos,issues,pull_requests) or set GITHUB_TOOLSETS; the README documents that enabling only the toolsets you need improves tool choice. Source: github.com/github/github-mcp-server#toolset-configuration ↗

Docker server exits immediately

Start it with -i (standard input) and pass the token: docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server. Without -i the stdio transport has nothing to read. Source: github.com/github/github-mcp-server ↗

Alternatives

Other community implementations

Independent, non-official implementations of the GitHub MCP server maintained by the community.

Last verified: 2026-10-15 ｜ Sources: github/github-mcp-server README ↗ · GitHub PAT docs ↗

GitHub

⭐ 33,624 stars · 最近更新于 15 天前 · MIT license

These star and push figures are for the shared repository — 2 listings on this site point at the same repository.

About this server

The GitHub MCP Server connects AI tools directly to GitHub's platform. This gives AI agents, assistants, and chatbots the ability to read repositories and code files, manage issues and PRs, analyze code, and automate workflows. All through natural language interactions. Built for developer

Summary from the project README — github.com/github/github-mcp-server

Distributed as Streamable HTTP, listed under Developer Tools. Review our MCP security guide before granting access to real data.

Frequently asked questions

What does the GitHub MCP server do?

How do I install GitHub?

Run the install command shown above, then paste the config for your client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code or Windsurf) into its MCP settings and restart the client.

Is GitHub free to use?

The MCP server itself is free to install. The source is public on https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server. Any third-party service it calls may require its own API key and account.

Which clients support GitHub?

Any MCP-compatible client can use it, including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf and custom agents.

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