Code of Conduct
What article on docs.github.com is affected?
Body:
The Copilot CLI command reference appears internally inconsistent about built-in MCP servers.
Docs page:
https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-cli-reference/cli-command-reference#built-in-mcp-servers
What the docs currently say:
- The “Built-in MCP servers” table lists:
github-mcp-server
playwright
fetch
time
- The description for
playwright says:
- “Browser automation: navigate, click, type, screenshot, and form handling.”
- On the same page, the
--disable-builtin-mcps option says:
- “Disable all built-in MCP servers (currently:
github-mcp-server).”
Why this looks wrong:
- Those two statements conflict with each other. If
playwright, fetch, and time are built in, the --disable-builtin-mcps text should not say “currently: github-mcp-server”.
- Other Copilot CLI docs also describe the GitHub MCP server as already configured, while showing Playwright as something users add themselves with
npx @playwright/mcp@latest.
Local verification:
-
Environment: macOS, GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.5
-
I temporarily removed my user-configured playwright MCP server from my global Copilot MCP config.
-
Then I ran Copilot CLI with this prompt:
“Use built-in browser automation only. Open https://example.com in a browser and tell me the page title. If browser automation is unavailable, say exactly that and do not substitute shell commands or web fetch.”
-
The CLI response was exactly:
“Browser automation is unavailable.”
This suggests that, at least in this environment, Playwright browser automation is not actually available as a built-in MCP server once the user-added Playwright config is removed.
Requested fix:
Please clarify which MCP servers are truly built into Copilot CLI by default, and then align:
- the “Built-in MCP servers” table
- the
--disable-builtin-mcps option text
- any Copilot CLI how-to pages that imply Playwright must be added manually
If Playwright is only available in some environments, behind a feature flag, or through a separate MCP setup, the docs should say that explicitly instead of presenting it as unconditionally built in.
What part(s) of the article would you like to see updated?
The “Built-in MCP servers” table lists:
github-mcp-server
playwright
fetch
time
it should say:
Additional information
No response
Code of Conduct
What article on docs.github.com is affected?
Body:
The Copilot CLI command reference appears internally inconsistent about built-in MCP servers.
Docs page:
https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-cli-reference/cli-command-reference#built-in-mcp-servers
What the docs currently say:
github-mcp-serverplaywrightfetchtimeplaywrightsays:--disable-builtin-mcpsoption says:github-mcp-server).”Why this looks wrong:
playwright,fetch, andtimeare built in, the--disable-builtin-mcpstext should not say “currently:github-mcp-server”.npx @playwright/mcp@latest.Local verification:
Environment: macOS, GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.5
I temporarily removed my user-configured
playwrightMCP server from my global Copilot MCP config.Then I ran Copilot CLI with this prompt:
“Use built-in browser automation only. Open https://example.com in a browser and tell me the page title. If browser automation is unavailable, say exactly that and do not substitute shell commands or web fetch.”
The CLI response was exactly:
“Browser automation is unavailable.”
This suggests that, at least in this environment, Playwright browser automation is not actually available as a built-in MCP server once the user-added Playwright config is removed.
Requested fix:
Please clarify which MCP servers are truly built into Copilot CLI by default, and then align:
--disable-builtin-mcpsoption textIf Playwright is only available in some environments, behind a feature flag, or through a separate MCP setup, the docs should say that explicitly instead of presenting it as unconditionally built in.
What part(s) of the article would you like to see updated?
The “Built-in MCP servers” table lists:
github-mcp-serverplaywrightfetchtimeit should say:
github-mcp-serverAdditional information
No response