Where do I obtain my Readwise Access Token?

You can quickly find or generate your specific access token by logging into your Readwise account and directly visiting `https://readwise.io/access_token`. Copy the alphanumeric token presented there and insert it directly into the prompt required by this integration.

Can the AI add native highlights or upload PDFs to Reader for me?

Currently, the integration server functions on a Read-Only standard format designed specifically to fetch existing knowledge. It fetches metadata or full-text values from highlights, tags, and Reader items, but it doesn't support publishing or updating new sources back to Readwise natively.

Does it also search through to my saved Readwise Reader feed?

Yes. Tools like `list_reader_documents` and `get_reader_document` are designated explicitly for extracting articles or stored reads directly residing inside your connected Readwise Reader account, keeping both typical highlights and Reader data separate but reachable.

Readwise MCP Server for VS Code Copilot 6 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: Readwise
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers

Built by Vinkius GDPR 6 Tools IDE

GitHub Copilot in VS Code is the most widely adopted AI coding assistant, embedded directly into the world's most popular code editor. With MCP support in Agent mode, Copilot can access external data and APIs to generate context-aware code grounded in real-time information.

Get MCP Server for AI Agents

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Open in ChatGPT Open in Claude Open in Perplexity

Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

RecommendedModern Approach — Zero Configuration

Vinkius Desktop App

The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install Readwise and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "readwise": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Fully ManagedVinkius Servers

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IAMAccess control

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DLPData protection

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<40msKill switch

Stream every event to Splunk, Datadog, or your own webhook in real-time

* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About Readwise MCP Server

Connect your Readwise account directly to your AI agent. Enabling this integration turns your AI into an expert research assistant, capable of instantly scanning your entire timeline of book highlights, article snippets, tweet saves, and personal tags directly from your unified Readwise and Readwise Reader library.

GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings Readwise data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 6 tools — Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.

What you can do

Highlight Retrieval — Perform searches or bulk retrievals of every snippet, quote, or highlight you've ever saved from your Kindle, Apple Books, and web browsers.
Library Browsing — Ask your AI to list all the books, articles, and sources currently populated in your Readwise database.
Readwise Reader Documents — Full access to list and extract content directly from articles and feeds saved into your Readwise Reader app.
Tag Management Analysis — Retrieve the categorizations and tags you use to organize your knowledge base system.

The Readwise MCP Server exposes 6 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to VS Code Copilot in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect Readwise to VS Code Copilot via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the Readwise MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Create MCP config

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above

Enable Agent mode

Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown

Start using Readwise

Ask Copilot: "Using Readwise, help me..." — 6 tools available

Why Use VS Code Copilot with the Readwise MCP Server

GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio Code provides unique advantages when paired with Readwise through the Model Context Protocol.

VS Code is used by over 70% of developers — adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor

Project-scoped MCP configs (`.vscode/mcp.json`) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access

Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop

GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services

Readwise + VS Code Copilot Use Cases

Practical scenarios where VS Code Copilot combined with the Readwise MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Live API integration: Copilot can query an MCP server, inspect the response schema, and generate typed API client code in the same step

DevSecOps workflows: security teams can give developers access to domain intelligence tools directly in their editor for real-time vulnerability assessment during code review

Data pipeline development: Copilot fetches sample data via MCP and generates transformation scripts, validators, and test fixtures from actual API responses

Documentation generation: Copilot queries available tools and auto-generates README sections, API reference docs, and usage examples

Readwise MCP Tools for VS Code Copilot (6)

These 6 tools become available when you connect Readwise to VS Code Copilot via MCP:

check_auth_status

Verifies the validity of the Readwise access token

get_reader_document

Retrieves details for a specific Reader document

list_books

Lists all books and sources in Readwise

list_highlights

Lists all highlights from the user's Readwise account

list_reader_documents

Lists documents in the Readwise Reader

list_tags

Lists all tags used in Readwise

Example Prompts for Readwise in VS Code Copilot

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your VS Code Copilot agent to start working with Readwise immediately.

"List the most recent 5 books I highlighted on Readwise."

"Show me the text of the recent document I saved to Reader with the ID 1234."

"Search my highlights for any mentions of 'productivity'."

Troubleshooting Readwise MCP Server with VS Code Copilot

Common issues when connecting Readwise to VS Code Copilot through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

MCP tools not available

Ensure you are in Agent mode in Copilot Chat. MCP tools only appear in Agent mode.

Readwise + VS Code Copilot FAQ

Common questions about integrating Readwise MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Which VS Code version supports MCP?

MCP support requires VS Code 1.99 or later with the GitHub Copilot extension. Ensure both are updated to the latest version. Older versions of Copilot may not expose the Agent mode toggle.

How do I switch to Agent mode?

Open the Copilot Chat panel and look for two mode options: "Ask" and "Agent". Click "Agent" to enable autonomous tool calling. In Ask mode, Copilot provides conversational answers but cannot invoke MCP tools.

Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?

Yes. VS Code shows a tool consent dialog before any MCP tool is invoked for the first time. You can also configure tool access policies at the organization level through GitHub Copilot settings.

Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?

Yes. MCP servers configured via .vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.