Add MCP servers to VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

VS Code reads .vscode/mcp.json in the workspace, a user-profile mcp.json, or the newer portable .mcp.json files.

macOS

User profile mcp.json (open via 'MCP: Open User Configuration'); portable: ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json

Windows

User profile mcp.json (open via 'MCP: Open User Configuration'); portable: ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json

Linux

User profile mcp.json (open via 'MCP: Open User Configuration'); portable: ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json

Project file

.vscode/mcp.json (key 'servers') or portable .mcp.json (key 'mcpServers')

Top-level key

servers

Format

json

OAuth for remote servers

●Yes

Example config

This example adds GitHub's hosted server and Playwright as a local server, in the shape this client expects.

{
  "servers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    },
    "playwright": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

code --add-mcp '{"name":"github","type":"http","url":"https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"}'
code --add-mcp '{"name":"playwright","command":"npx","args":["@playwright/mcp@latest"]}'

Notes and quirks

• .vscode/mcp.json uses the key servers; the portable .mcp.json and ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json use mcpServers.
• A top-level inputs array prompts you for secrets, so keys stay out of the file.
• The guided Add server flow now marks .vscode/mcp.json and the user-profile file as deprecated in favour of the portable files. Both still work.
• VS Code also discovers servers already set up for Claude Desktop, Copilot CLI, Cursor and Windsurf.
• code --add-mcp adds a server from a JSON string.

Build a VS Code (GitHub Copilot) config →

Other clients