---
title: "Filesystem: setup for Claude, Cursor, Codex · DotsAgent"
description: "Reads, writes, searches and moves local files, limited to the directories you pass in when it starts. Set up Filesystem in 13 MCP clients."
url: https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/filesystem
---

Files · MCP Steering Group

# Set up Filesystem

Reads, writes, searches and moves local files, limited to the directories you pass in when it starts.

- **Publisher**: MCP Steering Group Official
- **Run locally**: `npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/allowed/dir`
- **Transports**: stdio
- **Authentication**: None. Access is limited to directories passed as arguments or through roots.
- **What it can touch**: Reads and writes files inside the allowed directories.
- **Licence**: MIT (existing) / Apache-2.0 (new contributions)
- **Source**: [github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem)
- **Status**: Active

## Install

This server runs on your machine as a child process of the client. You need the runtime its command uses, such as Node.js for npx, uv for uvx or Docker, plus any variables listed under Environment.

### Claude Code

`shell`

```
claude mcp add --scope project filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/allowed/dir
```

### Cursor

`.cursor/mcp.json`

```
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/path/to/allowed/dir"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### Codex

`~/.codex/config.toml`

```
[mcp_servers.filesystem]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed/dir"]
```

[Config for other clients →](https://dotsagent.io/mcp/config#add=filesystem)

An agent can overwrite or move anything inside the directories you allow, so list only the ones it needs.

## Sources

1. [github.com](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers)/modelcontextprotocol/servers
2. [modelcontextprotocol.io](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/develop/connect-local-servers)/docs/develop/connect-local-servers

Independent reference for people who build AI agents. Not affiliated with any vendor named here.

© 2026 DotsAgent · Facts checked October 1, 2026