MCP server
Filesystem MCP server
The MCP project's Filesystem reference server lets AI read, write, edit, move and search files, only inside folders you allow.
- Official server
- Developer tools
At a glance
- Maintained by
- Model Context Protocol project (Anthropic reference servers)
- Tools exposed
- 10 listed below
- Reviewed
- September 24, 2026
Why it matters
What it does and why it matters
The Filesystem server lets an assistant work with files on your computer or server: read them, write new ones, edit existing ones, create folders, move files and search. Access is limited to the folders you list when you start it, which is its most important safety feature.
It is one of the most practical servers for everyday work, from organizing downloads to editing a set of documents or giving a coding assistant access to a project folder.
This is a reference server from the Model Context Protocol project. Reference servers show how the protocol works and are useful for learning and prototypes. Check the project notes before relying on one in production. Because it can write, edit and move files, list only the folders a task needs and keep backups of anything important. Never point it at your whole home folder or at folders with credentials.
Use cases
Best business use cases
Organize files
Edit documents
Find content
Project access
Data prep
Tools
Available tools
Tool names as published by the maintainer at review time. Versions change, so check the repository for the current list.
Read and write: Read and write: reads, creates, edits and moves files inside allowed directories only.
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read_text_fileRead a file as text.
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read_multiple_filesRead several files at once.
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write_fileCreate or overwrite a file.
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edit_fileMake targeted edits to a file.
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create_directoryCreate a directory.
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list_directoryList files and folders in a directory.
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move_fileMove or rename a file or directory.
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search_filesSearch for files by pattern.
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directory_treeGet a recursive tree view of a directory.
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get_file_infoGet file size, dates and permissions.
Workflows
Example workflows
Tidy a shared folder
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1
Allow one folder only.
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2
Ask the assistant to list and group files.
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3
It proposes a folder structure.
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4
You approve it.
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5
It creates folders and moves files.
Update a set of documents
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1
Allow the documents folder.
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2
Ask for a change, such as a new company address.
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3
The assistant searches for the old address.
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4
It shows the edits it plans.
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5
It applies them after approval.
Prompts
Example prompts
“List the files in this folder and suggest how to organize them.”
“Find every document that mentions our old address.”
“Read these CSV files and write a combined file without duplicates.”
Setup
Installation and configuration
Examples for Claude Desktop and Claude Code. Replace the placeholder values with your own keys, and store secrets outside version control.
Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
"/Users/username/Desktop",
"/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
]
}
}
}Claude Code: terminal
claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/allowed/dir- Local server: stdio; @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem; mcp/filesystem.
Security
Security considerations
-
Allowed folders only
List only the folders a task needs.
-
Backups
Keep backups before bulk edits or moves.
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No credential folders
Never allow folders that hold keys or passwords.
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Review edits
Ask to see planned edits before they are applied.
Related servers
Servers that pair well with it
Git
The MCP project's Git reference server lets AI read history and diffs and stage, commit and switch branches in a local repository.
Google Drive
Google's own Drive MCP server lets AI search, read and create files in Google Drive, with your Google Workspace sign-in.
Dropbox
Dropbox's own MCP server lets AI list, search and read files, convert them to markdown and create, move, share and delete files. In beta.
Keep exploring
Solutions and services that use it
Related services
View all related services- MCP integration Connect AI assistants to your CRM, files, databases and tools through Model Context Protocol servers, with safe permissions.
- AI copilots AI helpers built into your product or internal tools that draft, summarize and suggest while people decide.
- Automation and Integrations CRM, payment and API integrations, MCP connections and workflows that stop people copying data by hand.
- MVP development A first version with just enough features to put in front of real users and learn what to build next.
- Internal tools Custom software for your own team: trackers, approval flows and back-office systems that replace spreadsheets.
- RAG knowledge assistants Assistants that answer questions from your own documents and show where each answer came from.
Solutions
View all solutions- Internal help desk assistant An assistant in Slack or Teams that answers policy and how-to questions from your handbooks and opens tickets when needed.
- Approval workflows Requests, approvals and reminders in one place, with clear owners and deadlines instead of long email threads.
- Contract review assistant Highlight unusual clauses, missing terms and deviations from your standard positions, so reviewers focus where it matters.
- Automated quoting Draft accurate quotes and proposals from a request, your price rules and past work, for a person to approve.
- AI sales research agent Short, sourced briefings on each prospect before a call, drafted by an AI agent from public information and your CRM.
- AI-assisted content workflows Briefs, first drafts, edits and repurposing in a workflow where people set the angle and approve every word.
Industries
View all industries- Property management Tenant portals, maintenance tracking, owner statements and inbox automation for property managers.
- Tax and compliance services Client portals, document checklists, case queues and deadline tracking for tax preparers and compliance firms.
- Legal Contract review assistants, knowledge search, intake and document automation for law firms and in-house legal teams.
- Construction and facilities Job tracking, maintenance requests, inspections, quotes and proof-of-work photos for builders and facility teams.
- Education and elearning Course platforms, student portals, content workflows and AI tutoring assistants for schools and training companies.
- Professional services Client portals, proposal drafting, knowledge assistants and internal tools for consultancies, agencies and firms.
Case studies
View all case studies- Facility management platform Every request, inspection and cost for every building now lives in one place, with a clear owner and status.
- Payroll system for an IT services company Payroll is calculated from recorded inputs, reviewed once and sent as payslips in a single batch, with every change logged.
- Tax filing service platform Clients upload documents and see where their case stands, and staff work from one queue with deadlines and reminders.
Guides and articles
View all guides and articles- How to build an AI workflow with MCP servers Plan, connect and test an AI workflow that uses MCP servers, from a single task to a reliable process.
- Where AI helps in development, and where it does not An honest map of the development tasks AI speeds up and the ones that still need experienced people.
- What are AI agents and how do businesses use them? What AI agents are, real business uses, the controls they need and how to start with one safely.
- AI automation vs traditional automation How rule-based automation and AI automation differ, where each fits and how to combine them.
- How to automate payroll Turn a manual monthly payroll into a reviewed, tested process with accurate payslips and a full audit trail.
- No-code vs custom development Where no-code tools shine, where they hit limits, and when custom software pays off.
AI models
View all ai models- Mistral Medium 3.5 A newer open-weight Mistral model for agent and coding work, with image input, tool calling, structured outputs and a 256K window.
- Coding Models that write, review and explain code, and power coding assistants and developer tools.
- Claude Opus 5.5 Anthropic's recommended starting point for most serious work: long-running agentic coding and knowledge work, with a 1M token context window.
- Codestral 25.08 Mistral's low-latency coding model for code completion and generation, with fill-in-the-middle support, tool calling and a 128K window.
- GPT-6 Sol The middle model of the GPT-6 family, positioned for complex coding and agentic workflows at a mid price level.
- Qwen3-Coder Qwen's open-weight coding models under Apache 2.0, from the efficient Qwen3-Coder-Next to the large 480B model, with tool use and long context.
Glossary terms
View all glossary terms- AI agent An AI agent is software that uses a language model to plan steps, call tools and act toward a goal, instead of only answering one question.
- Workflow automation Workflow automation uses software to move work through a series of steps, such as routing, approvals and notifications, based on rules and events.
- Claude Code Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool, which works in a developer's terminal, IDE, desktop app or browser to read code, run commands and make changes.
- AI copilot An AI copilot is an assistant built into a tool people already use, which suggests, drafts and explains while the person stays in control.
- Automation Automation is using software to perform a task or process with little or no human effort each time it runs.
- Business process automation Business process automation uses software to run a multi-step business process, such as approvals or onboarding, from start to finish with less manual work.
FAQ
Questions people ask us
Have a question that is not here? Ask us directly.
No. It is limited to the folders you allow when you start it.
It is a reference server from the MCP project.
Its tools read, write, edit, create folders and move files. Keep backups before bulk changes.