GitHub — Claude Code MCP server: repos, PRs and issues
Wires your AI agent into GitHub: read code, open issues and pull requests, watch Actions runs. Saves a trip to the browser.
claude mcp add --transport http github-mcp-server https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/What GitHub does
The server gives an agent access to repositories you already have rights to: browsing and searching code, reading commits, mapping project structure. It also creates and updates issues and pull requests, and reports on GitHub Actions runs, failed builds and releases. Security findings and Dependabot alerts come through the same channel.
Two ways to run it. The remote server is hosted by GitHub at https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ and authenticates with OAuth or a personal access token. The local one runs in a container: docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3. Remote needs a host that speaks remote MCP and OAuth; local needs Docker. If your host can't do remote MCP servers, the local build is the fallback.
Toolsets are configurable, and default toolsets apply until you name your own. An insiders mode exposes experimental tools early, switched on through a URL path or a header. One thing to plan for: each host application has to register a GitHub App or OAuth App for remote access, and support levels differ between hosts, so check that host's own docs.
What it helps with
- read through an unfamiliar repository and map its structure
- file an issue or open a pull request without leaving the chat
- figure out why a GitHub Actions run failed
- review Dependabot alerts and security findings
- summarise commits and team activity across repos
Example prompts for the agent
- Show me the structure of
github/github-mcp-serverand find where toolsets are handled - Open an issue in my repo: the test step keeps failing
- Check the latest GitHub Actions runs on
mainand tell me what broke
How to install GitHub
1Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http github-mcp-server https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/2Platform CLI
claude mcp add github -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.31Platform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add github --url https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/2Platform CLI
codex mcp add github -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"github": {
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
}
}
}{
"mcpServers": {
"github": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"github": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"github": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3"
]
}
}
}1Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http github https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/2Platform CLI
gemini mcp add github docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about GitHub
How do I install the GitHub MCP server in Claude Code?
For the remote server: claude mcp add --transport http github-mcp-server https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/. For the local one via Docker: claude mcp add github -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3.
What does the GitHub MCP server do?
It connects an AI agent to GitHub. The agent reads code and commits, manages issues and pull requests, and follows Actions runs and Dependabot alerts.
Remote or local — which should I pick?
The remote server is hosted by GitHub and is the quicker setup, as long as your host supports remote MCP and OAuth. The local one runs in Docker and covers hosts that don't.
