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Developer platforms - official GitHub server

GitHub MCP server

Official GitHub MCP server for reading repositories and code, managing issues and pull requests, inspecting GitHub Actions runs, and working with security alerts, available as a GitHub-hosted remote server or a local Docker image or binary. GitHub hosts it at https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/, or you can run ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server (oci) locally with OAuth or API key auth.

Last verified 15 tools7 sources

Install

Claude Code

About Claude Code
Terminal
claude mcp add-json github '{"type":"http","url":"https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer YOUR_GITHUB_PAT"}}'

Codex

About Codex
Terminal
codex mcp add github --url https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ --bearer-token-env-var GITHUB_PAT_TOKEN

Cursor

About Cursor
JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_GITHUB_PAT"
      }
    }
  }
}

VS Code

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

Generic

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_PAT"
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools

get_me
Get my user profile
search_repositories
Search repositories
get_file_contents
Get file or directory contents
create_or_update_file
Create or update file
push_files
Push files to repository
create_branch
Create branch
list_commits
List commits
search_code
Search code
list_issues
List issues
issue_read
Get issue details
issue_write
Create or update issue/pull request
create_pull_request
Open new pull request
pull_request_read
Get details for a single pull request
merge_pull_request
Merge pull request
actions_get
Get details of GitHub Actions resources (workflows, workflow runs, jobs, and artifacts)

As documented on October 17, 2026. A running server reports its current list through tools/list.

Notes and caveats

  • Remote server GA since 2025-09-04 per GitHub changelog.
  • Latest release v2.0.2 (2026-10-08).
  • Remote server supports OAuth in hosts that register a GitHub or OAuth App (VS Code 1.101+, Copilot IDEs) and PAT Bearer auth elsewhere; Cursor and Claude Code guides use a PAT.
  • Local server runs via Docker (ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server) or a release binary, with built-in OAuth login on github.com or GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN; GitHub Enterprise Server and ghe.com need your own OAuth or GitHub App.
  • Toolsets are configurable; read-only, lockdown and insiders modes exist; some remote-only toolsets (Copilot, Copilot Spaces, support docs search) and premium tools need paid licenses.
  • The registry hints for this vendor (Azure, ClickHouse, LambdaTest) are third-party servers, not GitHub's.

More MCP servers for developer platforms

Related reading

FAQ

What does the GitHub MCP server do?

Official GitHub MCP server for reading repositories and code, managing issues and pull requests, inspecting GitHub Actions runs, and working with security alerts, available as a GitHub-hosted remote server or a local Docker image or binary. The vendor documents 15 tools, including get_me, search_repositories, get_file_contents and create_or_update_file.

How do I add the GitHub MCP server to Claude Code?

Run claude mcp add-json github '{"type":"http","url":"https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer YOUR_GITHUB_PAT"}}', copied from GitHub's docs. This page also has snippets for Codex, Cursor, VS Code and Generic.

Does the GitHub MCP server need authentication?

Yes, OAuth or API key. Transport: Streamable HTTP, stdio. Status: GA, last checked October 17, 2026.

Sources

Last verified against 7 GitHub pages, then re-checked independently.

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