File System

by Highlight

Recommended

1k downloads

GitHub

About

Access and update files locally on your machine.

Details

Author: Highlight
Repository: highlight-ing/mcp-servers
Downloads: 1,018
License: MIT License
Categories: File Management, Search

Setting up with Highlight

Follow these steps to add this server as a custom Highlight plugin:

Download and install Highlight from highlightai.com/download
Navigate to the plugins tab and select "Add Custom Plugin"
Configure the plugin with the settings below
Plugin Name File System

Command (node, npx, python, etc.) npx
Arguments
- Argument 1 -y
- Argument 2 @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem
- Argument 3 /Users/username/Desktop
- Argument 4 /path/to/other/allowed/dir
Please refer to the README for specific instructions on how to obtain API keys or other required environment variables.
Enable "Start Automatically" if you want the plugin to start when Highlight launches

Setting up with Cursor

Open Cursor's settings
Navigate to the MCP section
Click "Add new Global MCP server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Claude Desktop

Open Claude Desktop's settings
Go to the Integrations tab
Click "Add MCP Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure Claude Desktop is running before attempting to connect.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Windsurf

Open Windsurf's preferences
Go to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Integration"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Cline

Open Cline's settings
Navigate to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure to restart Cline after adding the configuration.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Goose

Open Goose's preferences
Go to the Integrations tab
Select "MCP Servers"
Click "Add New Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

From the repository

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:

`read_file`

Read complete contents of a file. Input: `path` (string). Reads complete file contents with UTF-8 encoding.

`read_multiple_files`

Read multiple files simultaneously. Input: `paths` (string[]). Failed reads won't stop the entire operation.

`write_file`

Create new file or overwrite existing file. Inputs: `path` (string): File location, `content` (string): File content.

`edit_file`

Make selective edits using advanced pattern matching and formatting. Inputs: `path` (string): File to edit, `edits` (array): List of edit operations, `dryRun` (boolean): Preview changes without applying (default: false), `options` (object): Optional formatting settings.

`create_directory`

Create new directory or ensure it exists. Input: `path` (string). Creates parent directories if needed.

`list_directory`

List directory contents with [FILE] or [DIR] prefixes. Input: `path` (string).

`move_file`

Move or rename files and directories. Inputs: `source` (string), `destination` (string). Fails if destination exists.

`search_files`

Recursively search for files/directories. Inputs: `path` (string): Starting directory, `pattern` (string): Search pattern, `excludePatterns` (string[]): Exclude any patterns.

`get_file_info`

Get detailed file/directory metadata. Input: `path` (string). Returns size, creation time, modified time, access time, type, and permissions.

`list_allowed_directories`

List all directories the server is allowed to access. No input required. Returns directories that this server can read/write from.

- read_file
- Read complete contents of a file
- Input: path (string)
- Reads complete file contents with UTF-8 encoding

- read_multiple_files
- Read multiple files simultaneously
- Input: paths (string[])
- Failed reads won't stop the entire operation

- write_file
- Create new file or overwrite existing (exercise caution with this)
- Inputs:
- path (string): File location
- content (string): File content

- edit_file
- Make selective edits using advanced pattern matching and formatting
- Features:
- Line-based and multi-line content matching
- Whitespace normalization with indentation preservation
- Fuzzy matching with confidence scoring
- Multiple simultaneous edits with correct positioning
- Indentation style detection and preservation
- Git-style diff output with context
- Preview changes with dry run mode
- Failed match debugging with confidence scores
- Inputs:
- path (string): File to edit
- edits (array): List of edit operations
- oldText (string): Text to search for (can be substring)
- newText (string): Text to replace with
- dryRun (boolean): Preview changes without applying (default: false)
- options (object): Optional formatting settings
- preserveIndentation (boolean): Keep existing indentation (default: true)
- normalizeWhitespace (boolean): Normalize spaces while preserving structure (default: true)
- partialMatch (boolean): Enable fuzzy matching (default: true)
- Returns detailed diff and match information for dry runs, otherwise applies changes
- Best Practice: Always use dryRun first to preview changes before applying them

- create_directory
- Create new directory or ensure it exists
- Input: path (string)
- Creates parent directories if needed
- Succeeds silently if directory exists

- list_directory
- List directory contents with [FILE] or [DIR] prefixes
- Input: path (string)

- move_file
- Move or rename files and directories
- Inputs:
- source (string)
- destination (string)
- Fails if destination exists

- search_files
- Recursively search for files/directories
- Inputs:
- path (string): Starting directory
- pattern (string): Search pattern
- excludePatterns (string[]): Exclude any patterns. Glob formats are supported.
- Case-insensitive matching
- Returns full paths to matches

- get_file_info
- Get detailed file/directory metadata
- Input: path (string)
- Returns:
- Size
- Creation time
- Modified time
- Access time
- Type (file/directory)
- Permissions

- list_allowed_directories
- List all directories the server is allowed to access
- No input required
- Returns:
- Directories that this server can read/write from

Claude Desktop / Cursor

Paste into your MCP client config file to install this server.

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "file system": {
            "env": {},
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                "/Users/username/Desktop",
                "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
            ],
            "shell": false,
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Linux

{
    "env": [],
    "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/username/Desktop",
        "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
    ],
    "shell": false,
    "command": "npx"
}

Macos

{
    "env": [],
    "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/username/Desktop",
        "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
    ],
    "shell": false,
    "command": "npx"
}

Windows

{
    "env": [],
    "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/username/Desktop",
        "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
    ],
    "shell": false,
    "command": "npx"
}

Filesystem MCP Server

Node.js server implementing Model Context Protocol (MCP) for filesystem operations.

Features

- Read/write files
- Create/list/delete directories
- Move files/directories
- Search files
- Get file metadata

Note: The server will only allow operations within directories specified via args.

API

Resources

- file://system: File system operations interface

Tools