GitHub MCP Server

The GitHub MCP Server connects AI tools directly to GitHub's platform. This gives AI agents, assistants, and chatbots the ability to read repositories and code files, manage issues and PRs, analyze code, and automate workflows. All through natural language interactions.

People who work with Github and want it reachable from Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client. The project is written in Go.

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-09-16 · ★ 33,015 · #10 OF 227 MAINTAINED AUTOMATION · VERIFIED 2026-09-18

MIT · Go servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install GitHub

before you install - you'll need

Set GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN, GITHUB_OAUTH_CALLBACK_PORT, GITHUB_PAT, GITHUB_INSIDERS before connecting. GITHUB_TOOLSETS, GITHUB_TOOLS are optional or environment-specific per the README.

Claude Code

claude mcp add github-github-mcp-server --transport http https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github-github-mcp-server": {
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/

transport: streamable-http

endpoint alive - authentication required · probed 2026-09-17

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as container (OCI image) - can be sandboxed away from your filesystem · remote - your agent's requests go to api.githubcopilot.com

endpoint auth requires authentication - rejected our unauthenticated MCP initialize

license MIT - declared in the repository

registry namespace io.github.github is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What GitHub can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

Latest releases

v1.12.2 · 2026-09-16

add update_issue_comment tool · add remove_issue_reaction, remove_issue_comment_reaction and remove_pull_request_review_comment_reaction tools to the granular issues and pull requests toolsets

v1.12.1 · 2026-09-08

Bugfix release · Oauth protected resource metadata became too permissive in the supported scopes advertised, which has been addressed in this release. · Return a clear error for missing owner/repo/issue_number in the…

v1.12.0 · 2026-09-03

Highlights · New governance tools for agents. Read and manage repository rulesets and custom properties across repository, organization, and enterprise levels. · Faster, safer feature flags. Functional availability…

In the wild · how people use GitHub

Public posts that name a concrete use case. Linked source posts - not MCPhq reviews, ratings, or endorsements.

04 · Who maintains GitHub

GitHub is maintained by github. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Mar 2025.

05 · Facts

repository
github.com/github/github-mcp-server
category
automation - ranked #10 of 227 actively-maintained automation servers as of 2026-09-18.
release cadence
10+ releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-09-16)
registry
io.github.github/github-mcp-server (active, first published 2025-09-26 · 57 versions)
packages
oci:ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:1.12.2

06 · GitHub FAQ

What is GitHub?

The GitHub MCP Server connects AI tools directly to GitHub's platform. This gives AI agents, assistants, and chatbots the ability to read repositories and code files, manage issues and PRs, analyze code, and automate workflows. All through natural language interactions.

Is GitHub still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-18, its last commit was 2026-09-16 and it shipped 10+ releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install GitHub?

Run `claude mcp add github-github-mcp-server --transport http https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/`. The README documents 6 environment variables (GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN, GITHUB_OAUTH_CALLBACK_PORT, GITHUB_PAT…) to set first. Set GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN, GITHUB_OAUTH_CALLBACK_PORT, GITHUB_PAT, GITHUB_INSIDERS before connecting. GITHUB_TOOLSETS, GITHUB_TOOLS are optional or environment-specific per the README. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does GitHub require authentication?

Yes - when we probed the endpoint on 2026-09-17, it rejected an unauthenticated MCP initialize; you'll need credentials to connect.

07 · Alternatives to GitHub

Alternatives to GitHub

Maintained automation servers if GitHub isn't the fit.

  1. Claude Flow AI orchestration with hive-mind swarms, neural networks, and 87 MCP tools for enterprise dev. ★ 72,753 · 2026-09-18
  2. Windows MCP An MCP Server for computer-use in Windows OS ★ 7,034 · 2026-09-16
  3. Claude Code Ultimate Guide Search the Claude Code Ultimate Guide and machine-readable references from any MCP client. ★ 5,990 · 2026-09-17
  4. Ha MCP Comprehensive Model Context Protocol server for managing Home Assistant through AI assistants. ★ 4,770 · 2026-09-18
  5. Stripe Agent Toolkit MCP server integrating with Stripe - tools for customers, products, payments, and more. ★ 1,822 · 2026-09-17
  6. Tooluniverse 2,500+ scientific tools for AI scientists: life science, research, literature, and more. ★ 1,690 · 2026-09-18

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