MCP server · Reference servers

Filesystem MCP server

Reference MCP server that gives an agent scoped read and write access to a directory on the local filesystem.

Official

npm package (runs locally)

Verified May 22, 2026 · editorial policy

TL;DR

Server: Filesystem MCP server
Vendor: Anthropic (reference)
Category: Reference servers
Distribution: npm package (runs locally)
TL;DR: The Filesystem reference server is one of the canonical MCP examples published by Anthropic. It exposes a sandboxed read and write surface scoped to a directory you pass at startup, so an agent can browse, read, edit, and create files inside that root without ever leaving the sandbox. The right baseline server for any local agent workflow.
Founder fit: If you are pair-programming with Claude on the codebase of your indie SaaS, this is the first MCP server you install. It lets the assistant read and write files in the project root without asking you to copy-paste, while keeping anything outside the chosen root off-limits.
Last verified: May 22, 2026

What an agent can do with it

Read files

Read text or binary file contents anywhere inside the sandboxed root.

Write and edit files

Create new files, overwrite existing files, or apply targeted edits.

Browse directories

List contents, search, and follow the tree without leaving the sandbox.

Why an indie SaaS founder cares

If you are pair-programming with Claude on the codebase of your indie SaaS, this is the first MCP server you install. It lets the assistant read and write files in the project root without asking you to copy-paste, while keeping anything outside the chosen root off-limits.

Install

Access: Local, free, sandboxed to the directory you pass at startup.

Claude Desktop

Add the following block to your claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude:

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

Cursor

Add the following block to .cursor/mcp.json in your home directory or project root:

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

Install snippets are derived from the vendor's published distribution shape. If your client is neither Claude Desktop nor Cursor, see the vendor docs for client-specific configuration.