Give Claude controlled read and write access to chosen folders on your computer.

The Filesystem reference server lets Claude read, write, edit, move and search files, but only inside the folders you allow on the command line or through MCP roots. It is most useful in Claude Desktop and other chat apps, since Claude Code can already work with files on its own.

Who it is for

Claude Desktop users who want Claude to work with local files
People organizing documents, notes or downloads
Developers who need a folder-restricted file tool for any MCP client

Prompts to try

Once it is connected, ask in plain words. Claude decides when to use the server and asks before it changes anything important.

Prompt 1

List everything in my Downloads folder larger than 50 MB and suggest what I could delete.

Prompt 2

Read the meeting notes in Documents/Notes and save a summary as weekly-summary.md.

Prompt 3

Rename the photos in Desktop/Trip so each file name starts with the date it was created.

How to connect it

In Claude Code

$claude mcp add --transport stdio filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/FOLDER

In the Claude desktop app

Add this to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart the app:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/YOUR_NAME/Desktop"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Good to know

List every folder Claude may use as an argument; it refuses paths outside them. A Docker image (mcp/filesystem) is also available.

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How we checked it

Checked the server's folder in the modelcontextprotocol/servers repo (last commit 2026-10-10), its README and license file, and the npm package @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem (1.0.0, published 2026-10-11).

Source: github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem

Filesystem MCP Server