Visual Studio

Visual Studio Officially Supports MCP: Standardizing AI Assistant Integration

Honghao Wang

— 2 min read

Microsoft Announces General Availability of Model Context Protocol (MCP) in Visual Studio

In August 2025, Microsoft declared that the Model Context Protocol (MCP) is now generally available in Visual Studio.

MCP enables AI agents within Visual Studio to connect to external tools and services through a standard, consistent protocol, providing developers with new, streamlined ways to configure and manage MCP servers.

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Background on MCP

MCP was introduced by Anthropic in 2024 as an open standard that simplifies interaction between AI-powered development workflows and external systems including:

  • Databases
  • Code search engines
  • Deployment pipelines

When using Copilot in Agent Mode or Chat Mode, Visual Studio users can:

  • Configure a `.mcp.json` file.
  • Select the AI model.
  • Enable tools in Chat (e.g., GitHub Copilot agent).

Visual Studio then allows the agent to query connected services efficiently.

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Example `.mcp.json` Configuration

{
  "servers": {
    "github": {
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

This sample connects to the GitHub Copilot MCP server.

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Adding MCP Servers in Visual Studio

Integration options:

  • Install via badge: Use the install button shown in repository Markdown files.
  • Manual configuration: Add server definitions to `.mcp.json` files located in supported discovery locations within the solution tree.

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MCP in Broader AI-Driven Workflows

MCP's standardized connectivity complements other AI content and automation tools.

🔎 Example:

AiToEarn官网 offers open‑source solutions that let creators:

  • Use AI to generate content.
  • Publish across multiple platforms (Douyin, Kwai, WeChat, Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, Pinterest, X/Twitter).
  • Track analytics and model rankings.

Just as MCP links AI agents to dev tools, AiToEarn integrates AI generation with unified cross-platform publishing, enabling efficient, monetizable AI workflows.

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Enterprise Management & Security

  • Admin controls: MCP usage can be regulated in enterprise settings via GitHub Copilot enterprise policies.
  • Authentication: MCP follows the MCP OAuth specification, allowing secure sign-in via Azure AD or other providers.
  • Security warnings: Microsoft issued guidance emphasizing review and access control when connecting to third‑party MCP servers.

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Practical Benefits for Developers

With MCP GA in Visual Studio:

  • AI assistants can connect to external toolchains via one standard protocol.
  • Configuration covers:
  • `.mcp.json` syntax
  • Server endpoints
  • API key linking
  • Model selection for Chat

⚠ Limitations:

Only tools can be exposed to a Copilot agent, even though MCP supports resources and prompts.

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MCP Resources & Server Repositories

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Strategic Impact

The introduction of MCP in Visual Studio may influence:

  • Tooling standardization
  • Security governance
  • Remote endpoint management
  • Authentication flow design

Developers should consult the Visual Studio MCP documentation for full guidance on setup and registration.

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Integrating MCP with Content Creation Platforms

For teams wanting to merge MCP workflows with content publishing:

  • AiToEarn connects tools, AI models, and distribution systems.
  • Features include open‑source AI models, ranking via AI模型排名, and deep analytics.
  • Enables unified creation → deployment → monetization pipelines.

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✅ Summary:

MCP’s GA in Visual Studio empowers developers to easily connect AI assistants to external systems through a secure, standardized protocol—opening the door to faster, safer, and more integrated AI development workflows.

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Would you like me to create a visual diagram showing how MCP connects AI agents to external services in Visual Studio? That could make this even easier to understand.

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