Can VS Code & GitHub Copilot Use Zotero? MCP Setup (2026)

Q: Can VS Code & GitHub Copilot use Zotero?

Yes. Add a remote URL in VS Code’s mcp.json ("type": "http"). We found no official Zotero server; the highest-rated live remote community server is Zoteus (trust grade B). Checked live on 2026-10-27.

Updated October 27, 2026 · from live checks of 50,180 MCP servers · Methodology

Remote Zotero servers

Server	Publisher	Status	Sign-in	Tools	Trust
Zoteus Yours? Claim it	Community	Live · sign-in	OAuth sign-in	—	B
Cite Caddy Yours? Claim it	Registry domain	Live · sign-in	OAuth sign-in	—	B
MCP for Zotero Yours? Claim it	Community	Live · sign-in	OAuth sign-in	—	C

Local Zotero servers

Server	Publisher	Status	Sign-in	Tools	Trust
Zotero MCP Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	API key	—	B
DocsAgent — Zotero, Obsidian & Apple Notes MCP Server Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	No auth	—	B
Research Hub Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	No auth	—	B
Zotero MCP Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	API key	—	C
MCP Zotero Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	API key	—	C
MCP Server Zotero Dev Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	No auth	—	C
Obsidian Vault MCP Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	No auth	—	C
zotio Yours? Claim it	Community	Local install	API key	—	C

How to add Zotero to VS Code & GitHub Copilot

Open the Command Palette and run MCP: Add Server. Choose HTTP for a server URL or Command (stdio) for a local install command.
Or edit .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace: VS Code’s format puts servers under a top-level "servers" object (remote: "type": "http" + "url"; local: "type": "stdio" + "command"). Portable Copilot files (.mcp.json, ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json) use "mcpServers" instead, so don’t copy between them unchecked.
Sign in if the server asks, then use its tools in Copilot agent chat.

Example for Zoteus (from the table above), in .vscode/mcp.json:

{
  "servers": {
    "zotero": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.zoteus.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Menus change, so check the VS Code MCP configuration reference. Every server page has a copy-paste config for VS Code & GitHub Copilot.

Is it safe to connect Zotero to VS Code & GitHub Copilot?

Check the publisher and trust grade first. Zotero doesn't run an official MCP server we can verify, so every server here comes from a third party and can see whatever your account can.

Can ChatGPT or Claude connect to Zotero?

See https://canmyaiuse.pages.dev/can/chatgpt/zotero/ and https://canmyaiuse.pages.dev/can/claude/zotero/

Does Zotero have an official MCP server?

Not that we can verify: it isn't in the official MCP Registry as of 2026-10-27, and we haven't found a server hosted by Zotero itself. Full list: https://canmyaiuse.pages.dev/apps/zotero/

Can VS Code & GitHub Copilot use Zotero?