---
title: "GitHub MCP server – install in Claude Desktop and Cursor"
summary: "GitHub's official MCP server that lets an agent read repositories, issues, pull requests, and Actions across your account."
canonical: https://unlocksaas.com/mcp-tools/github
updated: 2026-05-22
publisher: "Unlock SaaS"
author: "Maryan"
license: All rights reserved. Quotation with attribution permitted.
---

# GitHub MCP server

> GitHub's official MCP server that lets an agent read repositories, issues, pull requests, and Actions across your account.

- Vendor: GitHub
- Vendor URL: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
- Category: Project and collaboration
- Distribution: Local binary
- Install handle: github-mcp-server
- Official: yes
- Access: Authenticated via personal access token or GitHub App install.

## TL;DR

GitHub's official MCP server is the canonical way for an agent to reason about a GitHub account. The agent can search code, read PRs and reviews, list issues, and trace Actions runs – all through scoped access tied to a personal access token or installation. The right server when GitHub is the centre of your build workflow.

## Why an indie SaaS founder cares

Any indie SaaS founder shipping code on GitHub benefits from giving the assistant first-class GitHub awareness. Triage open issues, summarise a long PR, find the introducing commit for a regression, or draft a release note – all grounded in your real repo state.

## What an agent can do with it

- **Search code and repos** – Run code search and repo search across the scopes you grant.
- **Read issues and PRs** – List, inspect, comment-read across issues and pull requests.
- **Inspect Actions runs** – Read recent workflow runs, job logs, and failure context.

## Install in Claude Desktop

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "github-mcp-server"
    }
  }
}
```

## Install in Cursor

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "github-mcp-server"
    }
  }
}
```

## FAQ

**Can the agent merge PRs?**

Only if the token grants the corresponding write scopes. Prefer read-only scopes for casual use.

**Does it work with private repos?**

Yes – as long as the token has access to them.

Last verified: 2026-05-22.

---

Canonical URL: https://unlocksaas.com/mcp-tools/github
Publisher: Unlock SaaS (https://unlocksaas.com)
Contact: maryan@unlocksaas.com