codex-vscode.md

id	agents.docs.mcp.codex-vscode
title	Install MCP in VS Code Codex
doc_type	user-guide
layer	docs
status	active
publishable	true
local_only	false
tags	docs/mcp client/codex
parent	[[docs/mcp/README|MCP for WebDev Agent Kit]]
related	[[docs/install/vscode-codex|Install for VS Code Codex]] [[common/mcp-installation-policy|MCP Installation Policy]]
depends_on

Install MCP in VS Code Codex

← All MCPs · Install WebDev Agent Kit for VS Code Codex

This guide covers only MCP installation in the official Codex extension for VS Code on Windows. Server purposes, skill relationships, and common test prompts are in the general MCP guide.

Codex in VS Code

Before You Begin

Node.js, npm, and npx must work for Filesystem and Playwright:

node --version
npm --version
npx --version

How to Open MCP Settings

1. Open the project in VS Code.
2. Open the Codex panel.
3. Select the gear icon and open Codex Settings.
4. Select MCP servers.
5. Select Add server.
6. Fill in the fields for the required MCP and select Save.
7. After changes, select Restart extension or restart VS Code completely.

The Codex CLI and extension use shared MCP configuration. User configuration is stored in ~/.codex/config.toml; project .codex/config.toml works only in a trusted project.

The resulting list looks approximately like this:

Codex: Context7

Create an API Key

If you use an API key instead of OAuth:

1. Open the Context7 dashboard.
2. In the API Keys section, select Create API Key.
3. Name the key pc-vs-code-codex.
4. Create and immediately copy the key: it is not shown again.
5. Do not store the key in Markdown, git, or AGENTS.md.

On the next screen, name the key pc-vs-code-codex and select Create API Key:

Configuration Shown in the Screenshot

In MCP servers → Add server, enter:

Field	Value
Name	cntx7
Type	Streamable HTTP
URL	https://context7.com/
Bearer token env var	<YOUR_CONTEXT7_API_KEY>

Select Save.

This option matches the screenshot. Current official Context7 documentation uses a different endpoint and header. If the server does not connect, apply the current configuration below.

Current Configuration Through an Environment Variable

Create a local Windows variable:

setx CONTEXT7_API_KEY "<YOUR_CONTEXT7_API_KEY>"

Restart VS Code completely, then enter:

Field	Value
Name	cntx7
Type	Streamable HTTP
URL	https://mcp.context7.com/mcp
Headers from environment variables — Key	CONTEXT7_API_KEY
Headers from environment variables — Value	CONTEXT7_API_KEY

The first value is the HTTP header name; the second is the name of the environment variable containing the secret.

Equivalent config.toml:

[mcp_servers.cntx7]
url = "https://mcp.context7.com/mcp"
env_http_headers = { "CONTEXT7_API_KEY" = "CONTEXT7_API_KEY" }

Fallback CLI command:

codex mcp add cntx7 -- npx -y @upstash/context7-mcp --api-key "<YOUR_CONTEXT7_API_KEY>"

The command containing the key may remain in terminal history, so an environment variable is preferred for permanent configuration.

Codex: Filesystem

Copy the absolute path to the required project. In Add server, enter:

Field	Value
Name	filesystem
Type	STDIO
Command to launch	cmd

Add the arguments on separate lines:

/c
npx
-y
@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem
<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_PROJECT>

You can leave Working directory empty. Allow only the required project directory, not the drive root or the entire user profile.

Fallback CLI command:

codex mcp add filesystem -- cmd /c npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem "<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_PROJECT>"

Equivalent config.toml:

[mcp_servers.filesystem]
command = "cmd"
args = [
  "/c",
  "npx",
  "-y",
  "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
  "C:\\full\\path\\to\\project",
]

Codex: MDN

In Add server, enter:

Field	Value
Name	mdn-docs
Type	Streamable HTTP
URL	https://mcp.mdn.mozilla.net/

To opt out of first-party analytics, add under Headers:

Key	Value
X-Moz-1st-Party-Data-Opt-Out	1

CLI without the opt-out header:

codex mcp add mdn-docs --url https://mcp.mdn.mozilla.net/

Configuration with the header:

[mcp_servers.mdn-docs]
url = "https://mcp.mdn.mozilla.net/"
http_headers = { "X-Moz-1st-Party-Data-Opt-Out" = "1" }

Codex: OpenAI Docs

In Add server, enter:

Field	Value
Name	openai-dev-docs
Type	Streamable HTTP
URL	https://developers.openai.com/mcp

Leave the bearer token and headers empty. This server is for documentation only and does not require an OpenAI API key.

WebDev Agent Kit already directs current OpenAI/Codex questions to the official Docs MCP, so no additions to AGENTS.md are required.

Fallback CLI command:

codex mcp add openai-dev-docs --url https://developers.openai.com/mcp

[mcp_servers.openai-dev-docs]
url = "https://developers.openai.com/mcp"

Codex: Playwright

In Add server, enter:

Field	Value
Name	playwright
Type	STDIO
Command to launch	npx.cmd

Add the arguments on separate lines:

-y
@playwright/mcp@latest

You can leave Working directory empty.

Fallback CLI command:

codex mcp add playwright -- npx.cmd -y "@playwright/mcp@latest"

[mcp_servers.playwright]
command = "npx.cmd"
args = ["-y", "@playwright/mcp@latest"]

For the first safe browser_navigate call, choose Allow once if permanent permission is not required.

Verify Codex

After saving all servers:

1. Select Restart extension or restart VS Code.

2. Start a new Codex thread.

3. Check the enabled servers under Codex Settings → MCP servers.

4. If the CLI is available, run:

   codex mcp list

5. Run the prompts from the general MCP verification section.

The screenshots below show the expected results specifically in the Codex UI.

Filesystem

Context7

MDN

Playwright Permission

For a one-time test, select Allow once.

Playwright Result

OpenAI Docs

A green toggle and codex mcp list confirm configuration but do not replace a successful tool call in the current session.

Official client MCP configuration reference: Codex MCP.

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