Add GSC PAP to VS Code with GitHub Copilot

Steps

1. 1

   Verify your VS Code version

   Open VS Code → Help → About. You need 1.101 or newer. Earlier versions can use community MCP extensions but the native flow needs 1.101+.

2. 2

   Enable GitHub Copilot agent mode

   Open the Copilot sidebar. Switch to Agent mode. If you don't see the option, ensure your GitHub Copilot subscription is active and your VS Code is signed in.

3. 3

   Sign in to GSC PAP and copy your token

   Visit gscpap.com → Sign in with Google → grant Search Console + GA4 scopes → copy the one-time bearer token from the connect page.

4. 4

   Create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace root

   Add a `gsc-pap` server entry. The `inputs` block makes VS Code prompt you securely for the token on first use; the typed-in value is stored in the OS keychain, never on disk.

   jsonCopy

   {
     "servers": {
       "gsc-pap": {
         "type": "http",
         "url": "https://mcp.gscpap.com/mcp",
         "headers": {
           "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:gsc_pap_token}"
         }
       }
     },
     "inputs": [
       {
         "type": "promptString",
         "id": "gsc_pap_token",
         "description": "GSC PAP bearer token (from app.gscpap.com/account/tokens)",
         "password": true
       }
     ]
   }

5. 5

   Reload VS Code and test in agent mode

   Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P → "Developer: Reload Window". Open the Copilot agent panel and ask: "What sites are in my Search Console?" VS Code prompts for the token (one-time), then calls list_sites and returns your verified properties.

Common gotchas

• ·If `.vscode/mcp.json` is in version control and you don't want teammates to be prompted, mark them as `"password": false` and bind to a shared input. Otherwise each teammate enters their own token (recommended).
• ·VS Code caches the MCP tool list per session. After editing mcp.json, fully reload the window, incremental hot-reload doesn't pick up new servers.
• ·If headers can't be edited inline (older Copilot builds), upgrade to the latest VS Code stable. Pre-1.101 the headers field was rejected.
• ·Agent mode is required, chat mode (without agent) cannot call MCP tools yet.