Firecrawl MCP server in VS Code (GitHub Copilot) agent mode meets the live web.
Copilot's agent mode reads MCP servers from .vscode/mcp.json — with a built-in secrets mechanism most clients lack. Here's the Firecrawl config that keeps your API key out of the file.
VS Code's Copilot agent mode supports MCP, which means Firecrawl MCP Server (github.com/firecrawl/firecrawl-mcp-server, 6.5k stars) can give Copilot real web access: scrape a page into markdown, search the web, crawl a site, extract structured data — all from agent mode in the chat panel.
VS Code's MCP config has two quirks worth knowing before you start: the top-level key is `servers` (not `mcpServers` like nearly every other client), and it has a proper inputs mechanism so secrets never sit in the file in plaintext.
Prerequisites
A recent VS Code with the Copilot extension and agent mode enabled, Node.js 18+ for npx, and a Firecrawl API key from firecrawl.dev (prefix fc-). If your organization manages VS Code policy, also confirm MCP support isn't disabled via the chat.mcp.enabled setting — grayed-out MCP commands are the giveaway.
Create .vscode/mcp.json
You can run "MCP: Add Server" from the Command Palette and follow the prompts, but the file is short enough to write directly. This version uses an input so VS Code prompts for the key on first start and stores it securely instead of leaving it in the JSON:
{
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "firecrawl-key",
"description": "Firecrawl API key (fc-...)",
"password": true
}
],
"servers": {
"firecrawl": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "firecrawl-mcp"],
"env": {
"FIRECRAWL_API_KEY": "${input:firecrawl-key}"
}
}
}
}Start the server and test
Unlike most clients, VS Code doesn't auto-start MCP servers: open the file and click the Start link that appears above the server entry, or run "MCP: List Servers" and start it there. First start triggers the key prompt. Then open Copilot Chat, switch to agent mode, and check the tools icon — Firecrawl's scrape, search, crawl, and extract tools should be listed.
A good smoke test: "scrape https://example.com and tell me what the page is about." The full expected tool list is on the server's live Loomal listing at https://loomal.ai/marketplace/firecrawl-mcp-server.
A note on scope: .vscode/mcp.json applies to one workspace, which is usually right for a scraping server tied to a project. If you want Firecrawl in every workspace, run "MCP: Add Server" and choose the user-level option instead — VS Code then stores the definition in your user profile rather than the repo.
Troubleshooting in VS Code
Tools missing in chat: you're probably in ask or edit mode — MCP tools only surface in agent mode. Next most common: the config uses mcpServers instead of servers; VS Code silently ignores the unknown key, copied configs from Cursor or Claude Desktop fail exactly this way.
Server won't start: run "MCP: List Servers", select firecrawl, and Show Output — the server's stderr lands there and usually names the problem. "command not found" means npx isn't on VS Code's PATH (launch VS Code from a terminal or use an absolute path); 401s mean the stored key is wrong, and re-running the input prompt via "MCP: Reset Cached Tools"/restarting the server lets you re-enter it. After any mcp.json edit, restart the server entry — it doesn't hot-reload.
FAQ
How do I install Firecrawl in VS Code with Copilot?
Create .vscode/mcp.json with a firecrawl entry under the servers key (command npx, args ["-y", "firecrawl-mcp"]), click Start above the entry, and supply your fc- key when prompted. The tools then appear in Copilot Chat's agent mode.
Why doesn't my config from Cursor or Claude Desktop work in VS Code?
VS Code uses servers as the top-level key where almost every other client uses mcpServers. Paste a Cursor config unchanged and VS Code ignores it without an error. Rename the key and the same command/args/env block works.
Is it safe to commit .vscode/mcp.json to the repo?
Yes, if you use the inputs mechanism shown above — the file then contains a variable reference, not the key itself. VS Code prompts each developer once and stores their key securely. Never commit the file with a literal fc- key in env.
Firecrawl is configured but Copilot never uses it — why?
Three checks: you're in agent mode (not ask/edit), the server was actually started (MCP: List Servers shows its state), and the tools are enabled in the chat tools picker. If all three pass, Show Output on the server will reveal any runtime errors.
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