GitHub MCP
GitHub MCP Server connects AI tools directly to GitHub's platform, enabling natural language interactions for repository management, issue and PR automation, CI/CD monitoring, code analysis, and team collaboration. It is for developers who want to integrate AI assistants with GitHub capabilities.
✨ Key features
- Read repositories and code files
- Manage issues and pull requests
- Monitor GitHub Actions workflow runs
- Analyze security findings and Dependabot alerts
- Access discussions and manage notifications
- Supports OAuth and PAT authentication
🎯 Use cases
- Automate issue triage and PR reviews
- Query code and understand project structure
- Monitor CI/CD pipelines and analyze build failures
- Review security alerts and code patterns
- Streamline team collaboration and notifications
📦 Installation
🧰 Requirements: Requires a compatible MCP host (e.g., VS Code 1.101+, Claude Desktop, Cursor) and GitHub authentication via OAuth or Personal Access Token. Docker needed for local server.
Remote Server (VS Code)
Add to your MCP configuration:
{
"servers": {
"github": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
}
}
}
Local Server (Docker)
Run with Docker:
docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server
For OAuth, publish callback port:
{
"mcp": {
"servers": {
"github": {
"command": "docker",
"args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "-p", "127.0.0.1:8085:8085", "-e", "GITHUB_OAUTH_CALLBACK_PORT", "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"],
"env": {"GITHUB_OAUTH_CALLBACK_PORT": "8085"}
}
}
}
}
🚀 Usage
Example configuration for VS Code with PAT:
{
"servers": {
"github": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer ${input:github_mcp_pat}"
}
}
},
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "github_mcp_pat",
"description": "GitHub Personal Access Token",
"password": true
}
]
}
⚠️ Good to know
GitHub Enterprise Server does not support remote server hosting; local server required. Some MCP hosts may require hardcoded tokens.
❓ FAQ
How do I authenticate?
You can use OAuth (browser-based login, token kept in memory) or set GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN, which takes precedence over OAuth.
Can I use GitHub Enterprise?
Yes, for Enterprise Cloud with data residency (ghe.com) use the remote server with your subdomain. For Enterprise Server, use the local server with the --gh-host flag or GITHUB_HOST environment variable.
What are the default toolsets?
When no toolsets are specified, default toolsets are used. See the remote server documentation for details.
Is there an insiders version?
Yes, the remote server offers an insiders version with early access to new features, accessible via URL path /insiders or header X-MCP-Insiders: true.
📊 Repository
🤖 Overview, features, install steps and FAQ were generated from the project's README on Sep 4, 2026. Always check the original source before running commands.