The Filesystem MCP server provides Claude with secure access to the local filesystem for reading and writing files.
Features
- Read Files: Read content from any accessible file
- Write Files: Create or update files
- Directory Operations: List, create, and navigate directories
- File Search: Find files by pattern or content
- File Info: Get metadata like size, dates, permissions
Installation
npx @anthropic/mcp-filesystem
Configuration
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@anthropic/mcp-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed/directory"],
"env": {}
}
}
}
Security
The filesystem MCP only allows access to directories explicitly configured. This prevents unauthorized access to sensitive system files.
Recommended Setup
{
"args": [
"/home/user/projects",
"/home/user/documents"
]
}
Available Tools
read_file
Read the contents of a file.
{
"path": "/projects/app/src/index.ts"
}
write_file
Write content to a file.
{
"path": "/projects/app/src/new-file.ts",
"content": "export const hello = 'world';"
}
list_directory
List files and directories.
{
"path": "/projects/app/src",
"recursive": false
}
search_files
Search for files by pattern.
{
"path": "/projects/app",
"pattern": "*.ts",
"content": "import React"
}
Best Practices
- Limit access to necessary directories only
- Use absolute paths for clarity
- Check file existence before operations
- Handle large files with streaming when possible