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How to add the GitHub MCP server to VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

Server URL: https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/
Sign-in: OAuth failed in our test (no dynamic client registration). Use a personal access token in an Authorization header.
Our hands-on result: Partial 6 of 8 tasks passed, tested Oct 16, 2026 with MCP Inspector (reference client).

VS Code setup

File: .vscode/mcp.json

{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "github_pat",
      "description": "fine-grained personal access token",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:github_pat}"
      }
    }
  }
}

1. Save the file and click Start above the server entry. VS Code asks you to trust the server.
2. No sign-in is needed.

We ran the hands-on test in a reference client, not in VS Code. This config follows VS Code's documented format for remote (Streamable HTTP) servers. If it fails for you, tell us and we will retest.

Known problems and fixes

• MCP error: "Incompatible auth server: does not support dynamic client registration"
• MCP Inspector keeps failing after a bad OAuth attempt
• GitHub MCP issue_write shows a form and creates nothing

Same server, other clients

• GitHub MCP in Claude
• GitHub MCP in Claude Code
• GitHub MCP in Cursor
• GitHub MCP in ChatGPT

Full GitHub test report | Compare all tested connectors | Connector Weather