Filesystem MCP Server

Overview

File System MCP Server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) that provides secure file system operations for AI assistants like Claude. It enables AI models to safely read, write, and manage files in specified project directories with robust path validation and security controls.

The server acts as a bridge between AI assistants and your local file system, allowing them to interact with files and directories in a controlled and secure manner. Created by the Claude team, with implementations from various developers including Marcus Jellinghaus, this server is part of the broader MCP ecosystem designed to enhance AI capabilities through external tool access.

MCP itself is an open-source protocol that standardizes how external applications provide context to Large Language Models, creating seamless integration between LLMs and external tools while maintaining security.

Features

• Secure file operations within specified project directories
• Complete file management capabilities (read, write, create, delete)
• Directory creation, listing, and deletion
• File and directory movement functionality
• File search capabilities
• File metadata retrieval
• Path validation to prevent unauthorized access
• Fine-grained permission controls for directory access
• Integration with AI assistants for enhanced coding workflows

Use cases

• Allowing AI assistants to read and modify project files for code generation
• Enabling AI-assisted debugging through file access
• Automating repetitive file tasks like sorting, renaming, or organizing
• Facilitating directory cleanup and organization by file type
• Simplifying backup operations through AI guidance
• Searching through documents and files using natural language
• Enhancing development workflows with AI-assisted file management
• Creating project structures and scaffolding through AI prompts
• Facilitating collaboration between developers and AI tools in local environments

Tools

• File reading and writing utilities
• Directory management tools
• File search and metadata extraction
• Path validation systems
• Security control mechanisms

Integration complexity

2/5 - Relatively straightforward setup requiring basic command line and configuration file knowledge but no advanced technical expertise.

Setup Guide

Prerequisites

1. Install Node.js (v18.x or later)

   • Download from: https://nodejs.org/
   • Verify installation: node --version

2. Install Claude Desktop (if using with Claude)

Installation Steps

Option A: Global NPM Installation (Recommended)

npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem

Option B: Using NPX with Configuration

1. Locate your Claude Desktop configuration file:

   • macOS: ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
   • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add the following configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y", 
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/path/to/allowed/directory"
      ]
    }
  }
}

3. For Windows users, specify allowed directories:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y", 
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", 
        "C:\\Users\\YourUsername\\Downloads", 
        "C:\\Users\\YourUsername\\Documents"
      ]
    }
  }
}

4. Alternative environment variable configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem"],
      "env": { "DIRECTORIES": "/path/to/your/folder" }
    }
  }
}

5. Restart Claude Desktop
6. Look for the hammer and plug icon in Claude Desktop to verify the server is connected

License

Open-source (available on GitHub)

Website link

Repository: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem Homepage: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers