MCP Directory

How to add GitMCP to Claude Desktop

Free remote MCP that turns any GitHub repo into a live documentation source to cut hallucinations. Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 15, 2026 · 4.5k★ · sse · no auth

Claude Desktop config for GitMCP

Connect client to https://gitmcp.io/{owner}/{repo} (or https://gitmcp.io/docs)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitmcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://gitmcp.io/docs"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop connects to remote servers through the `mcp-remote` proxy (installed on first run via npx). Restart Claude Desktop after saving.

Setup steps

  1. 1Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config (this opens ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json).
  2. 2Paste the GitMCP config below under the top-level "mcpServers" key.
  3. 3Fill in any placeholder secrets (API keys, paths) in the snippet.
  4. 4Save the file, then fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop.
  5. 5Open a chat and confirm GitMCP's tools appear under the 🔌 tools menu.

Before you start

  • An MCP-capable client (Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Windsurf, VS Code, Cline, Highlight AI, Augment Code, Msty, etc.)
  • A public GitHub repository or GitHub Pages site to point at (private repos are not supported)
  • No account, API key, or token required — the service is free and unauthenticated

What GitMCP can do in Claude Desktop

fetch_<repo>_documentation

Retrieves the primary documentation (llms.txt, then README/docs) for a specific repo endpoint.

search_<repo>_documentation

Semantic/keyword search across a repo's documentation for a given query.

search_<repo>_code

Searches the repository's actual source code via GitHub code search.

fetch_url_content

Fetches the content of a URL/link referenced inside the documentation.

fetch_generic_documentation

Generic-endpoint variant (gitmcp.io/docs) that fetches docs for a repo named at query time.

search_generic_documentation

Generic-endpoint variant that searches docs for any specified owner/repo.

search_generic_code

Generic-endpoint variant that searches code for any specified owner/repo.

Security

This is a third-party hosted service that fetches public GitHub content on your behalf; it should only be pointed at repositories whose docs you trust. No credentials are sent, so private repos are not supported.

GitMCP + Claude Desktop FAQ

Where is the Claude Desktop config file?

Claude Desktop reads MCP servers from ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Paste the GitMCP config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is GitMCP safe to use with Claude Desktop?

This is a third-party hosted service that fetches public GitHub content on your behalf; it should only be pointed at repositories whose docs you trust. No credentials are sent, so private repos are not supported.

Does GitMCP require an API key or GitHub token?

No. It is free and unauthenticated, reading only public GitHub content on demand. Private repositories are not supported.

What's the difference between the repo URL and the gitmcp.io/docs endpoint?

A repo URL (gitmcp.io/owner/repo) is locked to one project and is slightly more secure; gitmcp.io/docs is a dynamic endpoint where the model chooses the repo at query time, which is more flexible.

How does it decide what documentation to serve?

It prioritizes an `llms.txt` file if the repository provides one, then falls back to README.md and other documentation in the repo.

View repo Full GitMCP page