Connect Skillry MCP in VS Code

Before you start

• VS Code with GitHub Copilot signed in and AI features enabled. The free Copilot tier is enough.
• Node.js 22 or newer (node --version). VS Code starts the server with npx.
• VS Code has two file formats: its own mcp.json with a servers key, and the portable Copilot file ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json with an mcpServers key. Either works; this page tells you which one each route writes.

Add Skillry to VS Code

Check that VS Code is connected

1. 1

   Run MCP: List Servers from the Command Palette and select skillry.

   You should see: A running server with actions such as Stop, Restart and Show Output. If it is stopped, select Start.

2. 2

   Open Chat, switch to Agent mode and open the tools picker.

   You should see: The Skillry tools, starting with search_skills, available to tick.

Try your first search

Searching needs no account, so this is the quickest way to prove the connection works.

1. 1

   Start a new conversation in Copilot Chat’s agent mode and paste this request.

   Use the Skillry MCP connected to https://skillry.dev to find three product presentation Skills. Show their preview links, required inputs, dependencies and external costs. Do not install or run anything.

   You should see: Three Skill candidates, each with a preview link, the inputs it needs, its dependencies and any outside costs. Nothing is installed.

2. 2

   If the agent answers that it has no Skillry tool, or the request hangs, go to It isn’t working.

Authorize when you install

Installing checks your Skillry account. You do not type a password or paste a key into the agent: the first time, it opens a page in your browser and you approve it there.

1. 1

   Ask the agent to install the Skill you chose, for example Install it for this project.

   You should see: The agent reports that it needs to connect your account and opens your browser. In a terminal client it may print the link instead; open it yourself.

2. 2

   Check that the device code on the page matches the one the agent shows, sign in to Skillry if asked, then select Approve.

   You should see: Authorization approved, with a note to return to your agent. The agent notices within a few seconds and finishes the install.

If VS Code can’t see Skillry

Remove or disconnect

1. 1

   Run MCP: List Servers, select skillry, then Uninstall; or delete the entry from the file that holds it.

   You should see: skillry gone from the list.

Removing the entry does not sign you out of Skillry. To revoke the stored approval as well, ask the agent to disconnect your Skillry account first, or remove the entry and let the approval expire after 7 days.

Reference

{
  "servers": {
    "skillry": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "--yes",
        "skillry-cli@latest",
        "mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Every field, the install URL format and the two file formats are in the MCP configuration reference.

Common questions