OfficialReference serverslocal stdio

Filesystem MCP Server

Gives agents controlled read and write access to files in directories you allow.

Install

Claude Desktop

{"mcpServers":{"filesystem":{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem","/Users/username/Desktop","/path/to/other/allowed/dir"]}}}

Copilot (VS Code)

{"servers":{"filesystem":{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem","${workspaceFolder}"]}}}

Commands and configuration as given in the server’s documentation (Documentation). Replace placeholders such as API keys with your own values.

Filesystem MCP Server is a reference server from the MCP project for reading and writing local files.

The Filesystem MCP server gives agents controlled read and write access to files in directories you allow. It is one of the Model Context Protocol reference servers, MIT-licensed, and runs locally over stdio with no authentication. Access is limited to directories passed as arguments or provided dynamically through MCP Roots. It runs through npx or the mcp/filesystem Docker image, and the configuration below covers Claude Desktop and Copilot in VS Code.

It reads and writes files, creates, lists and deletes directories, moves files, searches, and returns file metadata.

Questions

What can the Filesystem MCP server do?

It reads and writes files, creates, lists and deletes directories, moves files, searches, and returns file metadata.

How do I limit which folders the Filesystem MCP server can reach?

Pass the allowed directories as arguments, or provide them dynamically through MCP Roots.

Does the Filesystem MCP server need authentication?

No. It runs locally over stdio without authentication.

Can I run the Filesystem MCP server in Docker?

Yes. Besides npx, it runs from the mcp/filesystem Docker image.

Sources

Checked October 2, 2026.

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