Filesystem MCP Server
Give Claude controlled access to read and write files on your local filesystem within specified directories.
December 8, 2025by Anthropic
What is a MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers extend Claude's capabilities with external tools and data sources. They provide access to databases, APIs, file systems, and more. Configure MCP servers in .mcp.json or add them via `claude mcp add` command.
Setup Instructions
Option 1 - CLI Command: claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @anthropic-ai/mcp-server-filesystem /path/to/directory Option 2 - Add to .mcp.json Important: Claude can only access directories you explicitly allow. You can specify multiple directories by adding more paths to the args array.
Installation
claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @anthropic-ai/mcp-server-filesystem ~/projectsMCP Configuration
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@anthropic-ai/mcp-server-filesystem",
"/path/to/allowed/directory"
]
}
}
}Usage Example
Claude can read and create files: "Read the package.json" or "Create a new config file"
