# mcp-filesystem MCP server

Advanced filesystem operations with strict security boundaries for AI agents

## At a glance

mcp-filesystem is an MCP server in the Dev Tools & Git category. It runs locally over stdio via `npx -y @ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem`, and needs WORKSPACE_ROOT. It exposes 34 tools, including screenshot_capture_full, screenshot_capture_window and screenshot_capture_region. It scores B (61/100) on the MCP Skills Hub health score as of Oct 28, 2026.

## Install

### How to install mcp-filesystem in Claude Code

1. Add the server

```bash
claude mcp add mcp-filesystem -e 'WORKSPACE_ROOT=<WORKSPACE_ROOT>' -- npx -y @ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem
```

2. Fill in your credentials

   Replace <WORKSPACE_ROOT> with your real value. Keep secrets out of any config file you commit.

3. Verify it's connected

```bash
claude mcp list
```

4. Sharing it with your team?

   Add `--scope project` to write it to .mcp.json in the repository root, which you can commit (with the secrets left as environment variables).

5. Use it in a session

   Ask Claude to use the tools this server exposes (e.g. screenshot_capture_full, screenshot_capture_window, screenshot_capture_region). It discovers them automatically.

### How to install mcp-filesystem in Claude Desktop

1. Open your MCP config

   macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json · Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add this server

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem"
      ],
      "env": {
        "WORKSPACE_ROOT": "<WORKSPACE_ROOT>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

3. Fill in your credentials

   Replace <WORKSPACE_ROOT> with your real value. Keep secrets out of any config file you commit.

4. Restart Claude Desktop

   The tools appear under the 🔌 menu once the app reloads.

### How to install mcp-filesystem in Cursor

1. Create / edit .cursor/mcp.json in your project

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem"
      ],
      "env": {
        "WORKSPACE_ROOT": "<WORKSPACE_ROOT>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

2. Fill in your credentials

   Replace <WORKSPACE_ROOT> with your real value. Keep secrets out of any config file you commit.

3. Enable it

   Cursor Settings → MCP → toggle the server on. Tools become available to the Composer/Agent.

### How to install mcp-filesystem in Codex CLI

1. Add to ~/.codex/config.toml

```toml
[mcp_servers.mcp-filesystem]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem"]
env = { WORKSPACE_ROOT = "<WORKSPACE_ROOT>" }
```

2. Fill in your credentials

   Replace <WORKSPACE_ROOT> with your real value. Keep secrets out of any config file you commit.

3. Run Codex

   Codex loads MCP servers from config.toml on startup and exposes their tools to the agent.

### How to install mcp-filesystem in Windsurf

1. Edit ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem"
      ],
      "env": {
        "WORKSPACE_ROOT": "<WORKSPACE_ROOT>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

2. Fill in your credentials

   Replace <WORKSPACE_ROOT> with your real value. Keep secrets out of any config file you commit.

3. Reload

   Windsurf → Cascade → refresh MCP servers. Cascade can now call the tools.

### How to install mcp-filesystem in Cline

1. Open Cline → MCP Servers → Configure

   Adds to cline_mcp_settings.json.

2. Add the server

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem"
      ],
      "env": {
        "WORKSPACE_ROOT": "<WORKSPACE_ROOT>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

3. Fill in your credentials

   Replace <WORKSPACE_ROOT> with your real value. Keep secrets out of any config file you commit.

### How to install mcp-filesystem in VS Code

1. Create .vscode/mcp.json

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "mcp-filesystem": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@ai-capabilities-suite/mcp-filesystem"
      ],
      "env": {
        "WORKSPACE_ROOT": "<WORKSPACE_ROOT>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

2. Fill in your credentials

   Replace <WORKSPACE_ROOT> with your real value. Keep secrets out of any config file you commit.

3. Start it

   VS Code shows a ▶ Start action above the server entry. Agent mode (Copilot Chat) can then use the tools.

## Tools

- `screenshot_capture_full` — Capture entire screen with format options (PNG, JPEG, WebP, BMP)
- `screenshot_capture_window` — Capture specific application windows by title or ID
- `screenshot_capture_region` — Capture rectangular screen regions with precise boundaries
- `screenshot_list_displays` — List connected displays with resolutions and scaling
- `screenshot_list_windows` — List visible windows with titles, positions, and dimensions
- `fs_batch_operations` — Execute multiple operations atomically with rollback
- `fs_watch_directory` — Monitor directories for real-time changes
- `fs_get_watch_events` — Retrieve accumulated filesystem events
- `fs_stop_watch` — Stop watch sessions and clean up resources
- `fs_search_files` — Search by name, content, or metadata
- `fs_build_index` — Build searchable index for fast searching
- `fs_create_symlink` — Create symbolic links within workspace
- `fs_compute_checksum` — Compute file checksums for integrity verification
- `fs_verify_checksum` — Verify file checksums match expected values
- `fs_analyze_disk_usage` — Analyze disk usage and identify large files
- `fs_copy_directory` — Recursively copy directories with options
- `fs_sync_directory` — Sync directories by copying only newer/missing files
- `process_start` — Launch processes with arguments, environment, and resource limits
- `process_terminate` — Graceful or forced termination with timeout escalation
- `process_get_stats` — Real-time CPU, memory, thread, and I/O statistics
- `process_send_stdin` — Send input to interactive processes
- `process_get_output` — Retrieve captured stdout and stderr
- `process_list` — List all managed processes with status
- `process_get_status` — Detailed process state and uptime
- `process_create_group` — Create process groups and pipelines
- `process_add_to_group` — Add processes to groups
- `process_terminate_group` — Terminate all processes in a group
- `process_start_service` — Start long-running services with auto-restart
- `process_stop_service` — Stop services and disable auto-restart
- `mcp-debugger` — 25+ debugging tools with performance profiling, hang detection, advanced breakpoints
- `mcp-screenshot` — Screenshot capture with multiple formats (PNG, JPG, WebP)
- `mcp-process` — Process management with enterprise security
- `mcp-recording` — Screen recording with video encoding and frame extraction - Planned
- `mcp-filesystem` — Advanced file operations beyond basic read/write - Planned

Source repository: https://github.com/Digital-Defiance/ai-capabilities-suite

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Source: https://mcp-skills-hub.vercel.app/mcps/io-github-digital-defiance-mcp-filesystem · MCP Skills Hub · data as of 2026-10-28T12:31:05Z