VS Code Filesystem list_directory
How to: VS Code Filesystem list_directory
Add Filesystem to VS Code
-
01
Open .vscode/mcp.json and merge this in. Keep any servers already there.
{
"servers": {
"server-filesystem": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem"
]
}
}
}
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02
Save the file and restart VS Code.
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03
Ask for something list_directory does. VS Code lists the server's tools on connect and calls list_directory itself — you do not invoke it by name.
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04
If nothing happens, check the server is running and that Filesystem's identifier in your config matches the one above exactly.
Requires agent mode. MCP: Open User Configuration puts the same block in every workspace. VS Code docs
Same tool, other clients
Mutating and Read-only are read off each tool's name, not its schema — a hint, not a guarantee. The registry stores tool names only; connect the server for its live schemas.