Skip to main content
Watch: I Built an AI App Without Leaving Databricks

MCP client - GitHub - verified

How to add an MCP server to GitHub Copilot CLI

Where to add MCP servers in GitHub Copilot CLI: ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json (user); per-repository .mcp.json or .github/mcp.json; or copilot mcp add / /mcp add. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE. It handles OAuth sign-in for remote servers.

GitHub Copilot CLI homepage - GitHub Copilot in our tools directory - Compare all MCP clients

Kind
Coding agent
stdio
Yes
Streamable HTTP
Yes
SSE
Yes

Add a server

Where the config lives
~/.copilot/mcp-config.json (user); per-repository .mcp.json or .github/mcp.json; or copilot mcp add / /mcp add

The terminal command from the GitHub Copilot CLI docs, copied verbatim. Swap in your server's name, command or URL.

Terminal command - run it in your shell

Terminal
copilot mcp add github --env GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=YOUR_GITHUB_PAT -- docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server

Source: docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers

Which server?

Pick a server from the verified directory of official MCP servers. Each one lists its transport, auth and the setup snippets its vendor publishes, so you can match it to what GitHub Copilot CLI supports.

MCP support

What the GitHub Copilot CLI docs say it supports. Not stated means the docs do not say either way.

GitHub Copilot CLI MCP features, transports and OAuth, each with its source
FeatureValueSource
ToolsCalls the functions a server exposes.Yesdocs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers
ResourcesReads data and files a server exposes as resources.Yesgithub.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md
PromptsOffers a server's prompt templates to the user.Not statedDocs do not say
SamplingLets a server ask the client's model for a completion.Yesgithub.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md
RootsTells a server which directories it may work in.Not statedDocs do not say
ElicitationLets a server ask the user for input mid-task.Yesgithub.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md
DiscoveryPicks up tools, prompts or resources a server adds or removes while connected.Yesgithub.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md
InstructionsUses the instructions a server sends when it connects.Yesdocs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-cli-reference/cli-command-reference
stdioStarts a local server as a subprocess.Yesdocs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers
Streamable HTTPConnects to a remote server over the current HTTP transport.Yesdocs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers
SSEConnects over the older HTTP+SSE transport.Yesdocs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers
OAuthSigns in to remote servers with OAuth.Yesdocs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-cli-reference/cli-command-reference

Worth knowing

The GitHub MCP server is built into Copilot CLI and is available without any additional configuration.

Other coding agents

FAQ

Where is the GitHub Copilot CLI MCP config?

~/.copilot/mcp-config.json (user); per-repository .mcp.json or .github/mcp.json; or copilot mcp add / /mcp add. The example on this page is copied from https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers

Does GitHub Copilot CLI support remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP?

Yes, per https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers. Its docs list support for stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE.

Does GitHub Copilot CLI support OAuth for MCP servers?

Yes. It handles OAuth sign-in for remote servers. Source: https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-cli-reference/cli-command-reference

Which MCP features does GitHub Copilot CLI support?

Its docs list Tools, Resources, Sampling, Elicitation, Discovery and Instructions. They do not state Prompts and Roots.

Sources

Last verified from the pages below.

Newsletter

New MCP servers, the week they ship

One email per week. New official MCP servers, the coding tools that support them and how developers wire them up.