---
title: Adding MCP servers for {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli %}
shortTitle: Add MCP servers
allowTitleToDifferFromFilename: true
intro: 'Extend {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}''s capabilities by connecting Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers to provide additional tools and context.'
versions:
  feature: copilot
contentType: how-tos
category:
  - Configure Copilot CLI # Copilot CLI bespoke page
  - Author and optimize with Copilot # Copilot discovery page
docsTeamMetrics:
  - copilot-cli
---

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that defines how applications share context with large language models (LLMs). You can connect MCP servers to {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli %} to give {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} access to external tools, data sources, and services. For an overview of MCP, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/about-mcp).

## Adding an MCP server

> [!NOTE]
> The {% data variables.product.github %} MCP server is built into {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %} and is already available without any additional configuration. The steps below are for adding other MCP servers.

You can add MCP servers using the interactive `/mcp add` command within the CLI, or by editing the configuration file directly.

For installation instructions, available tools, and URLs for specific MCP servers, see the [{% data variables.product.github %} MCP Registry](https://github.com/mcp).

### Using the `/mcp add` command

1. In interactive mode, enter `/mcp add`. A configuration form is displayed. Use <kbd>Tab</kbd> to navigate between fields.
1. Next to **Server Name**, enter a unique name for the MCP server. This is the name you will use to refer to the server.
1. Next to **Server Type**, select a type by pressing the corresponding number. The following types are available:

   * **Local** or **STDIO**: starts a local process and communicates over standard input/output (`stdin`/`stdout`). Both options work the same way. **STDIO** is the standard MCP protocol type name, so choose this if you want your configuration to be compatible with {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode_shortname %}, the {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cloud_agent %}, and other MCP clients.
   * **HTTP** or **SSE**: connects to a remote MCP server. **HTTP** uses the Streamable HTTP transport. **SSE** uses the legacy HTTP with Server-Sent Events transport, which is deprecated in the MCP specification but still supported for backwards compatibility. <!-- markdownlint-disable-line GHD046 -->

1. The remaining fields depend on the server type you selected:

   * If you chose **Local** or **STDIO**:

     * Next to **Command**, enter the command to start the server, including any arguments. For example, `npx @playwright/mcp@latest`. This corresponds to both the `command` and `args` properties in the JSON configuration file.
     * Next to **Environment Variables**, optionally specify environment variables the server needs, such as API keys or tokens, as JSON key-value pairs. For example, `{"API_KEY": "YOUR-API-KEY"}`. The `PATH` variable is automatically inherited from your environment. All other environment variables must be configured here.

   * If you chose **HTTP** or **SSE**:

     * Next to **URL**, paste the remote server URL. For example, `https://mcp.context7.com/mcp`.
     * Next to **HTTP Headers**, optionally specify HTTP headers as JSON. For example, `{"CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "YOUR-API-KEY"}`.

1. Next to **Tools**, specify which tools from the server should be available. Enter `*` to include all tools, or provide a comma-separated list of tool names (no quotes needed). The default is `*`.
1. Press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>S</kbd> to save the configuration. The MCP server is added and available immediately without restarting the CLI.

### Editing the configuration file

You can also add MCP servers by editing the configuration file at `~/.copilot/mcp-config.json`. This is useful if you want to share configurations or add multiple servers at once.

The following example shows a configuration file with a local server and a remote HTTP server:

```json copy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@playwright/mcp@latest"],
      "env": {},
      "tools": ["*"]
    },
    "context7": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.context7.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "YOUR-API-KEY"
      },
      "tools": ["*"]
    }
  }
}
```

For more information on MCP server configuration, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/cloud-agent/extend-cloud-agent-with-mcp#writing-a-json-configuration-for-mcp-servers).

## Managing MCP servers

You can manage your configured MCP servers using the following `/mcp` commands in {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %}.

* **List configured MCP servers:** Use the command `/mcp show`. This displays all configured MCP servers and their current status.

* **View details about a specific server:** Use the command `/mcp show SERVER-NAME`. This displays the status of the specified server and the list of tools it provides.

* **Edit a server's configuration:** Use the command `/mcp edit SERVER-NAME`.

* **Delete a server:** Use the command `/mcp delete SERVER-NAME`.

* **Disable a server:** Use the command `/mcp disable SERVER-NAME`. A disabled server remains configured but is not used by {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} for the current session.

* **Enable a previously disabled server:** Use the command `/mcp enable SERVER-NAME`.

## Using MCP servers

Once you have added an MCP server, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can automatically use the tools it provides when relevant to your prompt. You can also directly reference an MCP server and specific tools in a prompt to ensure they are used.

## Further reading

* [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/about-mcp)
* [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/provide-context/use-mcp/extend-copilot-chat-with-mcp)
* [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/cloud-agent/extend-cloud-agent-with-mcp)