GitHub

by GitHub

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githubgitissuespull-requestsofficial

Summary

GitHub's official MCP server — manage issues, pull requests, repositories, code search, and Actions from your agent.

Features

Read and create issues and PRs
Search repositories and code
Review pull requests
Inspect GitHub Actions runs
Hosted remote or local Docker

Installation

Set up this MCP server in your favorite AI agent — copy a ready-made configuration below.

Any MCP-compatible agent

Most agents (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, and more) read a standard mcpServers configuration.

Open your agent's MCP configuration file.
Merge the snippet below into it, filling in the environment variables with your own values.
Restart the agent — the "GitHub" tools will be available.

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

Claude Code

Add the server with a single CLI command.

claude mcp add github -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=ghp_your_token_here -- docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server

Claude Desktop

Add the server to claude_desktop_config.json (Settings → Developer → Edit Config).

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

Remote hosted server (streamable HTTP). Authenticate with OAuth or a GitHub PAT.

{
  "command": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
}

Description

GitHub's official MCP server. It connects an agent to the GitHub platform: reading and creating issues and pull requests, browsing and searching repositories and code, reviewing PRs, and inspecting Actions runs. Available as a hosted remote server and as a local Docker image.