Filesystem MCP Server

What is Filesystem MCP Server?

Filesystem MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol server that provides filesystem operations for Claude AI. It allows AI models to read, write, list, move, search, and get metadata about files and directories within explicitly allowed directories.

How to use Filesystem MCP Server?

Install dependencies with npm install, build with npm run build, then run the server specifying one or more allowed directories as command‑line arguments (e.g., node build/index.js /path/to/allowed/dir1 /path/to/allowed/dir2). Configure it in your MCP client’s JSON configuration file.

Key features of Filesystem MCP Server

• Read complete file contents with UTF‑8 encoding
• Write new files or overwrite existing ones
• Create directories (including parent directories)
• List directory contents with [FILE] or [DIR] prefixes
• Move or rename files and directories
• Recursively search for files/directories with case‑insensitive matching
• Get detailed file metadata (size, times, permissions)
• List all directories the server is allowed to access

Use cases of Filesystem MCP Server

• AI assistants reading local text files to answer user questions
• Writing configuration files or scripts from AI‑generated content
• Browsing directory structures to understand project layouts
• Searching for files by name across a codebase
• Moving or organizing files within approved directories

FAQ from Filesystem MCP Server

What filesystem operations does this server support?

It supports reading, writing, creating directories, listing, moving, searching, and getting file metadata. Specific tools include read_file, read_multiple_files, write_file, create_directory, list_directory, move_file, search_files, get_file_info, and list_allowed_directories.

How does the server enforce security?

The server only allows operations within directories specified via command‑line arguments. No operations are permitted outside those allowed directories.

What are the runtime requirements?

Node.js is required. Install dependencies with npm install and build with npm run build before running.

Can the server read multiple files at once?

Yes, the read_multiple_files tool accepts an array of paths and reads them simultaneously. Failed reads do not stop the entire operation.

How do I configure the server with my MCP client?

Add an entry to your MCP configuration file that specifies the command (node), the path to the built index.js, and the allowed directory paths. Optionally set disabled and autoApprove.