---
title: "Connect VS Code to WordPress"
url: "https://plugpress.co/docs/connect-vs-code-to-wordpress.md"
canonical: "https://plugpress.co/docs/connect-vs-code-to-wordpress/"
published: "2026-07-28"
modified: "2026-07-28"
author: "Fahim"
tags:
  - "Saddle"
---

# Connect VS Code to WordPress

GitHub Copilot's agent mode in VS Code can work on your WordPress site when you connect it through the **Saddle** plugin — reading and writing posts, pages, and media from Copilot Chat. The setup is one `.vscode/mcp.json` file that Saddle generates for you.

## What do I need before connecting?

- A WordPress site with the [Saddle plugin](/docs/what-is-saddle/) installed and activated.
- VS Code with GitHub Copilot and agent mode enabled.

## How do I connect VS Code to my WordPress site?

### Step 1: Open the connect wizard in Saddle

In your WordPress dashboard, go to **Saddle → Connections**, click **Connect an app**, and choose **VS Code**.

![Saddle connect wizard in WordPress showing the Choose app step with Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI and VS Code](https://plugpress.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/saddle-connect-wizard-choose-app.png)

### Step 2: Copy the generated config

![Saddle setup step for VS Code showing the .vscode/mcp.json configuration for Copilot agent mode](https://plugpress.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/saddle-connect-vs-code-setup.png)

It looks like this (yours contains your real site address and key). Note VS Code uses `servers`, not `mcpServers`:

```
{
  "servers": {
    "saddle-your-site": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://your-site.com/wp-json/saddle/v1/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Basic PASTE-YOUR-KEY-HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Step 3: Save it and start the server

1. Save the config as `.vscode/mcp.json` in your project.
2. Open the Command Palette and run **MCP: List Servers**, then start the Saddle server.

## How do I know the connection works?

Open Copilot Chat in agent mode and ask:

```
What can you see on my WordPress site?
```

Copilot should report your site name, WordPress version, and content counts, and the app shows as connected in **Saddle → Connections**.

## What can Copilot do on my WordPress site?

Only what you allow on the [Permissions](/docs/permissions-access-levels/) screen — sites start read-only, and deletions always require a [preview-and-confirm approval](/docs/safe-deletions/).

## Something not working?

See [Troubleshooting and FAQ](/docs/troubleshooting/) for the most common connection fixes, including hosts that strip the `Authorization` header.