Filesystem MCP Server

Install Filesystem MCP Server

Paste this into your MCP client config — Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code and Windsurf all read the same shape — then restart the client.

npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/dir

Config for each MCP client

The same server, in the shape each client expects. Copy the block for yours, restart it, and Filesystem MCP Server appears in your next session.

Claude Desktop

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

Full Claude Desktop setup guide

Claude Code

claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/dir

Full Claude Code setup guide

Cursor

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

Full Cursor setup guide

VS Code

{
  "servers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/path/to/dir"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Full VS Code setup guide

Windsurf

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

Full Windsurf setup guide

Details

Repository

https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers

Homepage

https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers

Category

File System

Stars

11300

Installs per month

142000

Last checked

2026-07-17

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Filesystem MCP Server?

Add it to your MCP client's config with the command `npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/dir`, or paste the ready-made JSON block above into Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code or Windsurf. Claude Code users can run `claude mcp add filesystem` instead. Restart the client and the tools appear in the next session.

Does Filesystem MCP Server need an API key?

No credential is recorded for this listing, which usually means it runs against something local or public rather than an authenticated API. Check the repository's README before assuming, and if you find otherwise, tell us and we will correct the listing.

Which clients work with Filesystem MCP Server?

Any MCP client. Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code with Copilot, Windsurf, Zed, Cline and Continue all speak the Model Context Protocol, so a server written once works in all of them — only the location of the config file differs.

Is Filesystem MCP Server free?

The server itself is free and open source, and you run it yourself. It is published by the vendor of the system it connects to, so that service's own pricing applies to whatever it reaches.

Other File System servers

• Google Drive MCP Server — Search Drive and read documents. Official (File System)