---
title: "GitHub: setup for Claude, Cursor, Codex · DotsAgent"
description: "GitHub's own server for repos, issues, pull requests, Actions and code search, with switchable toolsets. Set up GitHub in 13 MCP clients."
url: https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/github
---

Dev tools · GitHub

# Set up GitHub

GitHub's own server for repos, issues, pull requests, Actions and code search, with switchable toolsets.

- **Publisher**: GitHub Official
- **Hosted endpoint**: `https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/`
- **Run locally**: `docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server`
- **Transports**: streamable-http, stdio
- **Authentication**: OAuth on the hosted endpoint if your client has a GitHub app, otherwise a personal access token.
- **Environment**: `GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN`
- **What it can touch**: Read and write; read-only mode and toolset filtering are available.
- **Licence**: MIT
- **Source**: [github.com/github/github-mcp-server](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server)
- **Status**: Active

## Install

The vendor hosts this server, so you only add its URL and nothing runs on your machine. If it needs authentication, the row above says how; OAuth servers prompt you on first connection.

### Claude Code

`shell`

```
claude mcp add --transport http --scope project github https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/
```

### Cursor

`.cursor/mcp.json`

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

### Codex

`~/.codex/config.toml`

```
[mcp_servers.github]
url = "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
```

### Run it locally instead (Cursor)

`.cursor/mcp.json`

```
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${env:GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

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

A broad token lets the agent write to every repository it covers, so prefer read-only mode or a narrowly scoped token.

## Other servers in dev tools

- [Everything](https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/everything): Reference test server from the MCP project that exposes every protocol feature, for checking that a client works.

- [Git](https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/git): Works with a local Git repository from the agent: status, diffs, history, branches and commits, on a repo path you choose.

- [GitLab](https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/gitlab): GitLab's built-in endpoint for issues, merge requests, pipelines and search, with selectable toolsets.

- [Figma](https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/figma): Feeds coding agents frames, variables and components from Figma files so the code they write matches the design.

- [Context7](https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/context7): Pulls current, version-specific library docs and code examples into the prompt. Hosted, with an optional API key.

- [Docker MCP Gateway](https://dotsagent.io/mcp/servers/docker-mcp-gateway): Runs servers from Docker's MCP catalogue in containers behind one gateway endpoint.

## Sources

1. [github.com](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server)/github/github-mcp-server
2. [registry.modelcontextprotocol.io](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0.1/servers?search=github-mcp-server)/v0.1/servers?search=github-mcp-server

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

© 2026 DotsAgent · Facts checked October 1, 2026