How to connect GitHub to Claude Code

Checked against Claude Code's documentation on Oct 26, 2026. Commands and config blocks are generated from the same install data as each listing page.

1. 1. Check what you need

   Nothing is installed here. Claude Code only has to reach the server, so confirm network access to api.githubcopilot.com.

   • It can take Authorization (next step).

2. 2. Get Authorization

   If you choose to send Authorization, create the token (a PAT or App token) in your GitHub account and store it somewhere private.

   • Authorization (optional): Authorization header with authentication token (PAT or App token).

3. 3. Add GitHub to Claude Code

   The --header option carries the token in the command, while the .mcp.json version reads it from the GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN environment variable. Export that variable before you start Claude Code.

   claude mcp add --transport http --scope user github-mcp-server https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ --header 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN'

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   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "github-mcp-server": {
         "type": "http",
         "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
         "headers": {
           "Authorization": "Bearer ${GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN}"
         }
       }
     }
   }

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   export GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN="paste-your-value-here"

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   • The command keeps the value in ~/.claude.json; the .mcp.json version refers to an environment variable, so nothing secret is committed.

4. 4. Restart or reload if it does not appear

   Skip this unless GitHub is absent from Claude Code after you add it. The notes list what the docs say about restarts and project approval.

   • The docs do not say a restart is needed after claude mcp add. Servers connect at startup and can be reconnected from the /mcp menu.
   • In an interactive session Claude Code asks you to approve servers from a project .mcp.json before it uses them; claude mcp reset-project-choices resets those answers.

claude mcp list