---
slug: "github-mcp-server"
name: "GitHub MCP Server"
effect: "Connects agents to GitHub repos, issues, pull requests, Actions runs and security alerts"
category: "mcp-server"
url: "https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server"
github: "github/github-mcp-server"
pricing: "open-source"
license: "MIT"
tags: ["github", "issues", "pull-requests", "actions", "go", "remote"]
platforms: ["any-mcp-client", "claude-code", "claude-desktop", "codex", "cursor", "gemini-cli", "vscode", "jetbrains", "windsurf", "zed", "docker"]
install_kind: "cli"
date_added: "2026-10-14"
drop_score: 65
stars: 33617
pushed_at: "2026-10-14T16:17:48Z"
signals_status: "ok"
signals_fetched_at: "2026-10-15T01:18:58.505Z"
page: "https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/github-mcp-server"
---

# GitHub MCP Server

Connects agents to GitHub repos, issues, pull requests, Actions runs and security alerts

Category: MCP servers. Pricing: Open source. License: MIT.

Platforms: any-mcp-client, claude-code, claude-desktop, codex, cursor, gemini-cli, vscode, jetbrains, windsurf, zed, docker.

## Why you would want it

GitHub's official MCP server lets an agent browse and search code, manage issues and pull requests, monitor Actions runs and review code scanning and Dependabot alerts. GitHub hosts a remote version at api.githubcopilot.com/mcp with OAuth or personal access token auth, and the same server runs locally from a Docker image or a Go binary. Tools are grouped into toolsets you can enable selectively, and a read-only mode removes every tool that makes changes.

## Best for

- Agents that triage issues or review pull requests
- Investigating CI failures from the editor
- Teams that want a hosted server with OAuth

## Use it when

Your agent needs to read or act on GitHub repositories, issues, pull requests or workflows as part of its task.

## Skip it if

You do not use GitHub. Remote OAuth depends on each host configuring a GitHub App or OAuth App, so some clients need a personal access token, and GitHub Enterprise Server needs extra setup.

## Install

Add the remote server to Claude Code:

```sh
claude mcp add-json github '{"type":"http","url":"https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer YOUR_GITHUB_PAT"}}'
```

Source: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/blob/main/docs/installation-guides/install-claude.md

## Live signals

Fetched 2026-10-15T01:18:58.505Z (status: ok).

- Repository: github/github-mcp-server
- Stars: 33,617
- Forks: 5,172
- Open issues and PRs: 367
- License (GitHub): MIT
- Last push: 2026-10-14
- Latest release: v2.0.2 (2026-10-08)

## Links

- Website: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
- GitHub: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
- Install instructions verified at: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/blob/main/docs/installation-guides/install-claude.md
- Source for this entry: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server#readme
- AgentToolDrop page: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/github-mcp-server
- Full catalog (JSON): https://agenttooldrop.com/tools.json