Dynamic Client Registration not supported

[TechWatching]

Describe the bug

When installing GitHub MCP Server on vscode, there is pop up "Dyncmic Client Registration not supported" with the following content.

Affected version

GitHub MCP: 0.13.0
VSCode: 1.106.0

Steps to reproduce the behavior

1. Go to extensions in VSCode
2. Install MCP server GitHub
3. Start the GitHub MCP Server

Expected vs actual behavior

The OAuth flow should work without prompting for a clientid, like it used to before.

Logs

2025-11-13 23:20:00.019 [info] Starting server github/github-mcp-server
2025-11-13 23:20:00.019 [info] Connection state: Starting
2025-11-13 23:20:00.019 [info] Starting server from LocalProcess extension host
2025-11-13 23:20:00.020 [info] Connection state: Running
2025-11-13 23:20:00.796 [warning] Error populating auth server metadata for https://github.com/login/oauth: TypeError: fetch failed
2025-11-13 23:20:00.796 [info] Using default auth metadata
2025-11-13 23:20:05.021 [info] Waiting for server to respond to initialize request...
2025-11-13 23:20:10.034 [info] Waiting for server to respond to initialize request...
2025-11-13 23:20:12.123 [warning] Error getting token from server metadata: Error: User did not provide client details
2025-11-13 23:20:12.126 [info] Connection state: Error 401 status sending message to https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/: bad request: missing required Authorization header

[almaleksia]

Hi 👋
We indeed do not support DCR but VS Code shouldn't make a DCR attempt in case of GitHub MCP. I couldn't reproduce this issue. Can you update your VS Code to the latest, re-install GitHub MCP, and try again?

[TechWatching]

I updated my VSCode to the latest, I searched GitHub in the MCP Servers panel of the extension tab, and reinstalled it using the "VS Code Install Server" button (installing it from the "Install" button was using the the local Docker GitHub MCP Server instead of the Remote MCP Server). And still the same issue.

[zzulueta]

I get this same issue as well. I am providing a training to a client on setting up the MCP Server in VS Code and this is occuring. The MCP server was working before but for the demo I deleted the setup to show them how to set it up and we get this.

[almaleksia]

@TechWatching can you share your mcp.json?

[TechWatching]

I don't have the issue anymore on Insiders but still on VSCode.
Here is my mcp.json:

{
	"servers": {
		"microsoft/playwright-mcp": {
			"type": "stdio",
			"command": "npx",
			"args": [
				"@playwright/mcp@latest"
			],
			"gallery": "https://api.mcp.github.com/2025-09-15/v0/servers/41b79849-7e6c-4fc7-82c0-5a611ea21523",
			"version": "0.0.1-seed"
		},
		"upstash/context7": {
			"type": "http",
			"url": "https://mcp.context7.com/mcp",
			"headers": {
				"CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "${input:context7_api_key}"
			},
			"gallery": "https://api.mcp.github.com/2025-09-15/v0/servers/dcec7705-b81b-4e0f-8615-8032604be7ad",
			"version": "1.0.0"
		},
		"github": {
			"type": "http",
			"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
		}
	},
	"inputs": [
		{
			"id": "context7_api_key",
			"type": "promptString",
			"description": "Context7 API key (optional; increases rate limits). Get one at https://context7.com/dashboard",
			"password": true
		}]
}

[chalkplum]

me too

[TechWatching]

It is working again with latest version of VSCode that was just released. I'm closing the issue. thanks.

[pedrojrv]

I got the exact wording but my issue was that the PAT scopes where not correct. I had to create one with the correct scopes and then the issue dissapeared.

[JoshuaRamirez]

Workaround for Claude Code users

For Claude Code users hitting "Dynamic Client Registration not supported", here's a working workaround using PAT auth:

claude mcp add-json github '{"type":"http","url":"https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer YOUR_GITHUB_PAT"}}'

Steps:

1. Generate a GitHub PAT at https://github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens/new with repo scope
2. Run the command above with your PAT substituted
3. Restart Claude Code
4. Verify with claude mcp list — should show github: ✓ Connected

This bypasses the OAuth flow entirely and uses direct PAT authentication in the header, matching the setup documented in install-claude.md.