GitHub MCP Server for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

What you can do with GitHub in Claude Desktop

Give agents GitHub-native repository context and issue, review, workflow, and security operations.

• Explore repositories, files, and commit history through an assistant.
• Triage issues and manage pull request workflows.
• Investigate failed GitHub Actions runs and development pipeline activity.

Before you start: GitHub in Claude Desktop

• Docker installed and running for local container execution
• An MCP-compatible host
• GitHub authentication and appropriate account permissions

The command uses the README's local PAT-based Docker example. The remote URL uses HTTP and supports OAuth where the host implements it, or PAT authentication. Grant only the permissions required for your tasks.

GitHub Claude Desktop configuration

1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

   For GitHub MCP Server, open macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Merge under mcpServers via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

2. Add GitHub MCP Server to Claude Desktop

   Use the github-mcp-server entry below in mcpServers. Keep GitHub MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Desktop entries.

3. Check GitHub MCP Server in Claude Desktop

   GitHub MCP Server: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github-mcp-server": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<your GitHub personal access token with appropriate permissions>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Troubleshooting GitHub in Claude Desktop

• Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for GitHub MCP Server. If docker and a running Docker engine is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
• In Claude Desktop's GitHub MCP Server entry, check GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN. Keep secrets out of shared screenshots and repositories.
• GitHub MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: OAuth support and configuration vary by MCP host.
• Known limitation: GitHub Enterprise Server cannot use the hosted remote service.
• Known limitation: Individual tool names are not stated in the supplied README excerpt.
• General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

Frequently asked questions