---
slug: "filesystem-mcp-server"
name: "Filesystem MCP Server"
effect: "Lets an agent read, write, edit, move and search files inside directories you allow"
category: "mcp-server"
tier: "standard"
url: "https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem"
github: "modelcontextprotocol/servers"
pricing: "open-source"
license: "Apache-2.0 (repo is transitioning from MIT; contributions not yet relicensed remain MIT)"
tags: ["filesystem", "files", "reference", "typescript", "local", "docker"]
platforms: ["any-mcp-client", "claude-desktop", "vscode", "docker"]
install_kind: "mcp-json"
date_added: "2026-10-14"
rank: null
rising_score: 46
stars: 91271
star_velocity: 131.3
velocity_basis: "since creation"
created_at: "2024-11-19T01:10:17Z"
pushed_at: "2026-10-13T05:54:47Z"
signals_status: "ok"
signals_fetched_at: "2026-10-15T05:02:40.998Z"
page: "https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/filesystem-mcp-server"
---

# Filesystem MCP Server

Lets an agent read, write, edit, move and search files inside directories you allow

Category: MCP servers. Tier: standard (a well-known tool, listed for reference, not ranked). Pricing: Open source. License: Apache-2.0 (repo is transitioning from MIT; contributions not yet relicensed remain MIT).

Platforms: any-mcp-client, claude-desktop, vscode, docker.

## Why you would want it

The reference filesystem server from the MCP project, published on npm as @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem. Access is limited to allowed directories passed on the command line or supplied by the client through MCP Roots, which can change at runtime without a restart. Every tool carries read-only, idempotent and destructive hints, so clients can tell a directory listing apart from an overwrite.

## Best for

- Giving Claude Desktop or another chat client local file access
- Scoped file access for agents without built-in file tools
- Learning how an MCP server is built

## Use it when

Your MCP client has no file access of its own and you want to grant it specific directories, optionally read-only through a Docker mount.

## Skip it if

Your coding agent already reads and edits files natively. The servers repo describes its servers as reference implementations and educational examples, not production-ready solutions.

## Install

Add to your MCP client config (npx):

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

Source: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/blob/main/src/filesystem/README.md

## Live signals

Fetched 2026-10-15T05:02:40.998Z (status: ok).

- Repository: modelcontextprotocol/servers
- Repository created: 2024-11-19
- Stars: 91,271 (GitHub's count; it cannot be authenticated)
- Stars per day, since repo creation: 131.3 (an average over the repo's life, not a growth rate)
- Forks: 11,789
- Open issues and PRs: 481
- License (GitHub): NOASSERTION
- Last push: 2026-10-13
- Latest release: v1.0.0 (2026-10-11)

## Links

- Website: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem
- GitHub: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers
- Install instructions verified at: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/blob/main/src/filesystem/README.md
- Source for this entry: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/blob/main/src/filesystem/README.md
- AgentToolDrop page: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/filesystem-mcp-server
- Full catalog (JSON): https://agenttooldrop.com/tools.json