Adding MCP servers to GitHub Copilot

• Workspace: .vscode/mcp.json, with servers in a top-level servers object.
• Workspace, portable format: .mcp.json at the project root, with servers in an mcpServers object.
• User profile: run MCP: Open User Configuration to open the mcp.json file in your profile.
• Run MCP: Add Server from the Command Palette for a guided setup, and MCP: List Servers to see and manage configured servers.
• VS Code shows a trust prompt when a server starts so you can review it first. MCP: Reset Trust clears those decisions.

Each entry under servers has a type of stdio, http, or sse. A stdio server needs a command and can add args, cwd, env, and envFile. An http or sse server needs a url and can add headers.

{
  "servers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp"
    },
    "playwright": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@microsoft/mcp-server-playwright"]
    }
  }
}

Declare an inputs array with a promptString entry and set password to true. Reference it as ${input:ID} in env or headers, and VS Code asks for the value when the server starts instead of storing it in the file.

{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "perplexity-key",
      "description": "Perplexity API Key",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "perplexity": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "server-perplexity-ask"],
      "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "${input:perplexity-key}"
      }
    }
  }
}

In the repository, open Settings, then Copilot under Code, planning, and automation, then MCP servers, and paste a JSON config. It uses an mcpServers key, each server needs a tools array (use ["*"] to allow all tools), and type can be local, stdio, http, or sse.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-server": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "your-mcp-server-package"],
      "tools": ["*"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "$COPILOT_MCP_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

• Only Agents secrets and variables whose names start with COPILOT_MCP_ are available to the MCP configuration.
• The GitHub and Playwright MCP servers are enabled by default alongside your own servers.
• Copilot cloud agent only supports MCP tools, not resources or prompts.
• Remote MCP servers that use OAuth for authentication are not currently supported for the cloud agent.