mcp_server_filesystem

This MCP server implements a filesystem integration for Claude Desktop. It allows Claude to access and read files from one or more allowed directories that you specify when configuring the server. Access is restricted to the directories listed in the args so you can safely expose local folders to Claude without giving broad filesystem access. After starting the server, you can enable the filesystem integration in Claude Desktop, attach it via the MCP menu, and browse the configured directories through the UI. Use this to enable Claude-powered search, file previews, or document retrieval against your local folders.

To use, install the server in a Python environment, run the MCP server, and then configure Claude Desktop to point to the running server. The UI will list the available integrations, allowing you to select the filesystem server and the specific directories you granted in the config. You can add multiple directories for broader access within the same server instance.

Prerequisites:

• Python installed (recommended 3.8+)
• A Python virtual environment tool (optional but recommended)
• Internet access to install dependencies

Setup steps:

1. Create and activate a virtual environment (optional but recommended):

   • Linux/macOS: python3 -m venv .venv source .venv/bin/activate
   • Windows: python -m venv .venv\Scripts\activate

2. Install the server package in editable mode from the repository root: uv pip install -e .

3. Run the MCP server using uvx (the package name advertised in your config should be the entrypoint): uvx mcp-server-filesystem

4. Verify installation: uv pip list

5. Configure Claude Desktop with the provided config snippet, editing the paths in args to match directories you want to expose.

Notes:

• Only the directories listed in the config args are accessible by the server.
• If you modify the config, restart Claude Desktop to apply changes.

Tips and common issues:

• Ensure the directories in args exist and are accessible by the user running the MCP server.
• If you encounter 'Command not found', verify the package is installed in the active environment and that you’re launching the correct entrypoint via uvx.
• When adding multiple directories, use absolute paths if possible to avoid ambiguity across platforms.
• Restart Claude Desktop after changing the config to ensure the new filesystem integration is loaded.
• Consider running the MCP server in a dedicated virtual environment to avoid conflicts with other Python tools.
• If you see access denied errors, check file system permissions for the configured directories.