Connect Claude to GitHub
Access repos, manage issues, review PRs, and automate development workflows with AI.
The GitHub MCP integration lets Claude interact with your repositories - reading code, managing issues, reviewing pull requests, and helping you navigate codebases. Ask Claude about your repo structure, get explanations of unfamiliar code, or automate repetitive GitHub tasks.
What You Can Do
Browse Repositories
Navigate repo structure, read files, understand codebases without cloning locally.
Manage Issues
Create, search, update, and triage issues. Get summaries of open issues and bug reports.
Review Pull Requests
Read PR diffs, get summaries of changes, understand what code is being modified.
Generate Docs
Create README updates, code comments, and documentation from existing code.
Example Commands
Basic
- "What repositories do I have access to?"
- "Show me the README for my 'project-x' repo"
- "List open issues in the 'frontend' repository"
Intermediate
- "Find all files that import the 'authentication' module"
- "Summarize the changes in pull request #42"
- "Create an issue titled 'Fix login timeout' with a description of the bug"
Advanced
- "Review the code in PR #87 and explain what the changes do in plain English"
- "Find all TODO comments across the codebase and create issues for each one"
- "Analyze the 'api' folder and generate documentation for each endpoint"
Setup Guide
Prerequisites
- Generate a Personal Access Token at github.com/settings/tokens
- Select appropriate scopes (repo, read:org)
- Install the GitHub MCP server
- Add configuration to Claude Desktop
- Test with a simple repo query
Add this to your configuration file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"github": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@anthropic/mcp-server-github"],
"env": {
"GITHUB_TOKEN": "your-personal-access-token"
}
}
}
}Token Scopes Recommendation:
repo- Full access to repositories (required for most operations)read:org- Read organization data (if accessing org repos)- Use fine-grained tokens for more precise access control
View Complete Setup Instructions →
Security & Privacy
Critical Warning: Your GitHub token grants significant access. Never share tokens. Use fine-grained tokens with minimal scopes when possible. For organization repos, consult your security team before connecting.
Claude accesses repos your token has permission to view. Private repos require appropriate token scopes. Code content is processed but not stored.
Read our complete Security Guide →
Best Use Cases
Workflows Using GitHub
- Developer Productivity Workflows — Automate your coding.
- MCP Developer Quick Start — Get up and running fast.
- PR Summary Bot: Summarize PRs in plain English for team leads.
Works Well With
Technical Considerations
Rate Limits
GitHub API has rate limits. Claude's requests count against your token's limit. For heavy usage, consider GitHub Enterprise or authenticated requests.
Large Repositories
Very large repos may have performance considerations. Claude works best with targeted queries rather than reading entire codebases.
Binary Files
Claude can identify binary files but can't read their contents. Focus on source code, docs, and config files.
FAQ
Can Claude push code to my repositories?▼
With appropriate token scopes, Claude can create files and commits. Use read-only tokens if you want to prevent writes.
Does this work with GitHub Enterprise?▼
Yes, with appropriate configuration for your Enterprise instance. Check with your GitHub admin.
Can Claude access private repositories?▼
Yes, if your token has the repo scope and you have access to the private repo.
Will Claude see my organization's private code?▼
Only if your token has org access and you're a member. Claude can't access repos you can't access yourself.
Can Claude run GitHub Actions?▼
Claude can potentially trigger workflows if your token has appropriate permissions. Be cautious with automation permissions.
Ready to Connect GitHub?
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