Getting Started with the GitKraken MCP Server

Last updated: March 2026

The GitKraken MCP Server gives AI agents direct access to your Git operations, issue tracking, and pull request workflows across GitHub, GitLab, Jira, and Azure DevOps. It works from any supported IDE or agent. Install it through GitLens or the GitKraken CLI.

• Install via GitLens
• Install via GitKraken CLI

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Quick Start

The fastest way to install the GitKraken MCP Server is through GitLens in VS Code or Cursor. In many cases, updating GitLens is all that’s needed; the server installs automatically.

Requires: VS Code 1.101.0 or later and GitLens 17.5 or later. Earlier versions require manual setup via the command palette. See Install via GitLens below.

Which install method is right for you?

• Use the GitLens path if you work in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Trae, or another VS Code–based IDE and want zero manual configuration.
• Use the GitKraken CLI path if you work in Claude Desktop, JetBrains IntelliJ, Amazon Q Developer, Kiro, or Google Antigravity, or if you need to configure the server once across multiple agents.

IDE	Install Method	Prerequisites
VS Code	GitLens (recommended) or CLI	VS Code 1.101.0+, GitLens 17.5+
VS Code Insiders	GitLens deeplink or CLI	VS Code 1.101.0+, GitLens 17.5+
Cursor	GitLens (recommended) or CLI	Windows: VC++ Redistributable
Windsurf	GitLens deeplink	None
Trae	GitLens deeplink	None
Claude Desktop	CLI (manual JSON)	gk CLI authenticated
Amazon Q Developer	CLI (form entry)	gk CLI authenticated
Kiro	CLI (manual JSON)	gk CLI authenticated
JetBrains IntelliJ	CLI (manual JSON)	JetBrains AI Assistant
Google Antigravity	CLI (manual JSON)	gk CLI authenticated

Once updated, see Verify installation below to confirm the server is active.

To use the GitKraken CLI instead, authenticate first:

gk auth login

Then add the GitKraken MCP Server to your preferred agent using the gk mcp command. Each IDE requires a one-time stdio transport configuration. See the IDE-specific steps below.

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Install via GitLens

The GitKraken MCP Server is bundled with GitLens version 17.5 and later. In most cases, updating GitLens is sufficient. The server installs automatically with no additional configuration.

If the server does not install automatically, run the following command from the command palette in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, or any other VS Code–based IDE:

GitLens: Install GitKraken MCP Server

You can also install directly using the following deeplinks. Each link handles all configuration automatically:

• VS Code
• VS Code Insiders
• Cursor
• Windsurf
• Trae

Each link handles all required configuration automatically.

Verify installation

1. Ensure you are in Agent Mode.
2. Run a test prompt: What issues are assigned to me? A working server will display an approval request for the issues_assigned_to_me tool.
3. To inspect all available tools, click the tools icon in the Agent Mode toolbar.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the list and confirm MCP Server: GitKraken (bundled with GitLens) is present.

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Install via GitKraken CLI

You can also install the GitKraken MCP Server using the GitKraken CLI. Follow these steps to set up the MCP Server across different IDEs.

After installation, run the following command in your terminal to authenticate with your GitKraken account:

gk auth login

Once authenticated, add the GitKraken MCP Server to your preferred agent.

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Third Party Tools Manual Setup

Prerequisites: The GitKraken CLI must be installed and authenticated before configuring any IDE. Run gk auth login in your terminal first.

VS Code

To install the GitKraken MCP Server in VS Code, use the command palette:

1. Open the command palette and select MCP: Add server…

2. When prompted, select stdio as the server type.

3. In the next prompt, enter the following command:

gk mcp

4. Provide a name for the server and press Enter.

5. To verify, make sure you are in Agent Mode, then click the tools icon in the Agent Mode toolbar to confirm the GitKraken MCP Server appears in the list.

Note: MCP Tools must be enabled in VS Code settings for the server to function.

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Cursor

To install the GitKraken MCP Server in Cursor:

Option A: GitLens command palette (recommended if you have GitLens installed):

Run GitLens: Install GitKraken MCP Server from the command palette. This handles all configuration automatically.

Option B: Manual JSON config:

1. Open the command palette and select View: Open MCP Settings.

2. If no servers are installed, click Add Custom MCP to begin setup.

3. Add the GitKraken MCP Server configuration to the JSON file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitkraken": {
      "command": "gk",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Note: Windows users must have the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable installed.

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Claude Desktop

To configure the GitKraken MCP Server in Claude Desktop:

1. From the app toolbar, open Settings, then navigate to the Developer tab.

2. Click Edit Config to open the claude_desktop_config.json directory.
3. Edit the file and paste in the following JSON:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitkraken": {
      "command": "gk",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

4. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

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Amazon Q Developer

To configure GitKraken MCP in Amazon Q Developer:

1. Inside of the Q Chat window, click the Configure MCP Server icon.

2. On the new MCP Servers pane, click the + icon on the top right.

3. Please insert the following:

Field	Value
Name	gitkraken
Transport	stdio
Command	gk
Arguments	mcp

4. Click Save to finish adding the MCP server.

5. After completing the setup, or as you need, you can edit permissions for individual toolsets to either Ask, Always Allow or Deny. By default, Q will always ask in the chat.

---

Kiro IDE

To add MCP to the Kiro Agentic IDE:

1. Click the Kiro icon in the left panel.

2. In the Kiro chat window, at the bottom, navigate to the MCP panel and click the Open MCP Config button.

3. On the mcp.json window click User Config

4. Below the uvx entry (the default kiro environment) please add the following and save:

"gitkraken": {
      "command": "gk",
      "args": ["mcp"],
      "env": {},
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }

Your final json should look like the following:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fetch": {
      "command": "uvx", 
      "args": ["mcp-server-fetch"],
      "env": {},
      "disabled": true,
      "autoApprove": []
    },
    "gitkraken": {
      "command": "gk",
      "args": ["mcp"],
      "env": {},
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

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JetBrains IntelliJ

To add the GitKraken MCP Server to JetBrains IntelliJ:

JetBrains AI Assistant is required.

1. Navigate to Settings > Tools > AI Assistant > Model Context Protocol (MCP).
2. Click Add to create a new MCP server configuration.
3. In the dialog, select As JSON from the dropdown.
4. Paste the following configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitkraken": {
      "command": "gk",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

---

Google Antigravity

To add the GitKraken MCP Server to Google Antigravity IDE:

1. Navigate to the agent pane, located to the right of the workspace, and click the ellipsis ….
2. Select MCP Servers from the drop down.

3. Remaining in the agent pane, click Manage MCP Servers.

4. On the new Manage MCPs file window, in the middle pane, click View raw config.

5. Paste the following json to the config file.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitkraken": {
      "command": "gk",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

6. Verify the GitKraken MCP Tools are enabled.

Next Steps

After completing installation, visit our Example Workflows to see how the GitKraken MCP Server automates Git operations, issue tracking, and pull request workflows directly from your AI agent.

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