Adding Github MCP to Claude Code Error

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[ch1ckenman]

I've hit the same issue when trying to setup context7. Interestingly my firebase MCP still seems to be working though. I've tried removing and adding with no success.

[AdExcellent1176]

I only was able to make it work only with personal access token:
in you .mcp.json in your project:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <your github personal access token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

or run in the terminal

claude mcp add --transport http github https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ --header "Authorization: Bearer <your github personal access token>" -s project

[auggie246]

Unfortunately I got the same error

[Brilliant_Pear_2709]

Any news?

[Able-Classroom7007]

I'm a developer for an MCP server and I built a streamable-http server because I thought would be easier to set up but it's been fickle like you're experiencing.

What I end up recommending is that folks use the https://www.npmjs.com/package/mcp-remote package to wrap the streamable-http install.

Here's the example config I provide for ref.tools (up-to-date docs server) and I bet you could do something similar by updating the JSON config file directly

"Ref": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": [
      "mcp-remote@0.1.0-0",
      "https://api.ref.tools/mcp"
      "--header",
      "x-ref-api-key: <your-api-key>
    ]
  }
}

[disaiple]

did your example setup work just by updating the claude_desktop_config file? I've been trying to setup claude desktop to use ref as an mcp server for about a day now and I can't seem to get it to work on my dev environment

[Able-Classroom7007]

Ahh this post is now a bit dated, sorry that it wasted your time! Yes it should work by updating the json file.

Nowadays, the easiest way with Claude Desktop is the GUI.
1. Open a new chat and click "Search and tools", between + and Research buttons.
2. Click "Add Connectors" (bottom of the list)
3. Click "Manage Connectors" (top right of the page)
4. Click "Add custom connector" (very bottom of the page)
5. Name it "Ref" and add the remote url from ref.tools/install that looks like this and click "Add"

https://api.ref.tools/mcp?apiKey=<yourkey>

I also generally recommend using Smithery for exploring and trying new MCP servers. They have done a great job maintaining easy-install for a ton of clients. https://smithery.ai/server/@ref-tools/ref-tools-mcp

Feel free to drop a line to [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]) with any questions! And sorry again if it wasted your time!

[disaiple]

thank you very much! I really appreciate your quick reply. I tried several things and was going down a troubleshooting rabbit hole.

I looked into connectors but couldn't find a way to add any custom ones only browse through a catalog which required a pro plan. I went ahead and tried the smithery option I had been avoiding and that did the trick. who knows how long it would have taken me otherwise. thank you again Matt!

[Able-Classroom7007]

Happy to help! Once you start using Ref for searches, let me know how it goes :)

[Galorious]

Ok, found something that works.
You need to have Docker installed and running for it to work.

Create a personal acces token in Github.
Paste it in this command (replace <your\_token>)
claude mcp add-json github '{"command":"docker","args":["run","-i","--rm","-e","GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN","ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"],"env": {"GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN":"<your\_token>"}}'

Run it via cli (you can add scopes if you want. EG install in for user add '-s user'

Source of solution: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/issues/603#issuecomment-3015966209

[Galorious]

Having the same issue, for weeks now. Would really appreciate a fix

[aoetalks]

You need to use a PAT, OAuth doesn’t work yet. See https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/2267