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You can connect GitHub Copilot in VS Code to GitHub through either the built-in GitHub MCP Server or a manually configured remote server. The built-in option is the shorter path when your VS Code installation exposes its Preview setting; manual configuration gives you an explicit server entry and a portable configuration option. Both use GitHub authentication and remain subject to the permissions of the authenticated account.
Choose a setup route
| Route | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in GitHub MCP Server | You want the least configuration and your VS Code version offers the feature. | The VS Code 1.107 release notes describe it as a Preview feature that must be enabled explicitly. It reuses existing GitHub authentication. VS Code 1.107 release notes |
| Manual remote server | You want an explicit MCP server entry or need to follow a host configuration workflow. | You add GitHub’s remote MCP endpoint to an MCP configuration file. GitHub documents VS Code 1.101 or later for remote MCP and OAuth. GitHub MCP Server repository |
These routes connect Copilot agent sessions to GitHub tools and context; they do not replace GitHub sign-in or grant access beyond the signed-in account’s permissions. The instructions below reflect the version-specific Preview details in the November 2025 VS Code 1.107 notes. Feature availability, defaults, and settings can change, so check the current notes for your installed version.
Enable the built-in GitHub MCP Server
-
In VS Code, open Settings and search for
github.copilot.chat.githubMcpServer.enabled. Alternatively, add this setting to your user or workspacesettings.json:Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
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Open a Copilot Chat agent session. In the session’s tool picker, check that the GitHub tools are available. The release notes describe the built-in server as reusing your existing GitHub authentication, so sign in to the GitHub account whose permissions you intend the agent to use.
-
If your organization uses GitHub Enterprise Cloud, the same release notes say the built-in server supports its endpoints, including GHE.com. Confirm your organization’s sign-in and endpoint requirements if tools do not appear.
The release notes also describe a read-only option that removes write tools and a lockdown control for the built-in server. These controls apply to this built-in route; they are not a general permission override for every manually configured server. Check the current release notes and setting descriptions for their exact behavior before relying on them.
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Use this route when you prefer a visible server configuration or need to configure MCP through a particular VS Code host workflow. VS Code’s setup guide shows the remote endpoint as https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp. The following example uses that exact endpoint and VS Code’s .vscode/mcp.json format:
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{
"servers": {
"github": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp"
}
}
}-
Create or open
.vscode/mcp.jsonin your workspace and add the configuration above. The top-level key for this VS Code format isservers. -
Save the file. If VS Code prompts you to trust or start the server, review the configuration before allowing it.
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Open a Copilot Chat agent session, open the tool picker, and confirm that the GitHub server’s tools are available. Complete the GitHub authentication flow if prompted.
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The VS Code MCP setup guide documents this endpoint. GitHub’s repository includes a comparable VS Code example ending in /mcp/; do not combine fragments from examples without a reason. Follow the endpoint and authentication method for the configuration you choose. GitHub documents OAuth and also shows a prompt-protected personal access token input for applicable setups; avoid putting a token directly in a configuration file.
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Choose a configuration file and location
VS Code supports more than one MCP configuration format. The right choice depends on whether the setup is for one workspace, portable across compatible hosts, or intended for a user-level configuration.
| Location or format | Top-level key | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
.vscode/mcp.json |
servers |
VS Code workspace configuration. It can be committed to share with a team, so inspect it carefully before trusting a repository. |
.mcp.json |
mcpServers |
Portable project configuration supported by VS Code and other compatible tools. |
| VS Code user configuration | Use the format documented for that configuration location. | User-level setup that is not tied to a single workspace. |
~/.copilot/mcp-config.json or $COPILOT_HOME/mcp-config.json |
mcpServers |
Portable Copilot configuration. The current VS Code guide recommends portable destinations for new servers. |
For the current location-specific schemas and examples, consult the VS Code MCP configuration reference and the MCP setup guide. Do not paste a servers example into a file expecting mcpServers, or the reverse.
Handle credentials and access safely
-
Use the least credential permissions that allow the tasks you need. GitHub recommends limiting permissions and using separate tokens for different projects or environments. A server can only act within the access granted to its authenticated account or token.
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Keep tokens out of version control. Use VS Code input variables or environment files for sensitive values rather than hardcoding them in configuration. If you use a personal access token, make sure it is requested securely and has only the required permissions.
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-
Review workspace MCP configuration before trusting it, especially in a repository you did not create. VS Code warns that “Local MCP servers can run arbitrary code on your machine.” That warning is especially relevant to local servers; a remote HTTP entry still deserves review because it determines which service your agent connects to.
-
For the built-in route, the read-only option documented in the 1.107 release notes removes write tools, while the lockdown control is a separate control described there. Verify current setting behavior rather than assuming these controls govern manually configured servers.
See the VS Code MCP guide, GitHub MCP Server documentation, and VS Code 1.107 release notes for the respective configuration and security details.
Make MCP available in Agent Host sessions
Agent Host reads portable MCP configuration directly. VS Code can also forward eligible .vscode/mcp.json configurations, but it excludes servers that require interactive input such as ${input:...}. If a server works in the Chat view but not in an Agent Host session, check whether its configuration uses interactive inputs and consider a portable configuration supported by that host. The MCP configuration reference documents this forwarding behavior.
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Troubleshoot a missing server or tools
-
In the Command Palette, run
MCP: List Serversand inspect the server’s status. -
Open the server’s output log and look for configuration, startup, connection, or authentication errors. VS Code’s MCP guide says Chat displays an error indicator when it encounters an MCP server issue.
-
Check that the JSON is valid, the file uses the expected top-level key, and the endpoint exactly matches the selected setup route.
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For the built-in route, confirm the Preview setting is enabled and that the GitHub account is signed in. For the manual route, complete the requested OAuth or other configured authentication flow.
-
If tools appear stale after changing configuration, run
MCP: Reset Cached Tools. If trust approval is blocking startup, review the configuration and useMCP: Reset Trustonly when you intend to clear saved trust decisions.
The commands and log workflow are documented in the VS Code MCP setup guide and configuration reference.
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