| name | web-search |
| description | Search the web through GitHub Copilot when the builtin WebSearch is unavailable (Claude Code wired to Copilot Direct denies it). Use the mcp__copilot-env__web_search tool for any query that needs current information from the internet, and fall back to the documented wiring steps when the tool is not registered. |
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"author":"Vivswan"} |
Web Search via Copilot
Answer questions that need current information from the internet by searching through GitHub Copilot's Responses API instead of the builtin WebSearch.
When to Use
Whenever web search is needed.
Workflow
- Call
mcp__copilot-env__web_search with a query string. Keep the query short and specific, as you would type into a search engine. Installed as a Claude Code plugin instead of via the wiring writes, the same tool appears under the plugin-namespaced name mcp__plugin_copilot-env_copilot-env__web_search; call whichever is present.
- The tool returns a concise answer followed by a
Sources: list of cited URLs. Relay the answer and keep the source URLs when the user needs to verify or read further.
- If a call fails, read the error text: a missing credential says how to fix itself (
agent auth or a GH_TOKEN environment variable), and an HTTP error names the status. Report the problem instead of retrying blindly.
- For a different search model, the user can run
agent config --set message-websearch-model <id>; the tool reads it on the next call, no restart needed.
Fallback Without MCP
When the mcp__copilot-env__web_search tool is not registered:
- From a copilot-env checkout, register the server in Claude Code:
claude mcp add --scope user copilot-search -- <checkout>/bin/agent mcp --serve (see .mcp.json.example in this folder for the JSON shape other MCP clients accept). Register a hand-made entry under a name OTHER than copilot-env: copilot-env's own wiring writes reclaim and remove the copilot-env entry when switching modes or opting out.
- On a machine wired through the local copilot-api proxy (
agent claude --proxy), the builtin WebSearch works as-is; no MCP server is needed.
- With neither available, say plainly that you cannot search the web in this session and answer from your own knowledge, dated as such.
