functions-mcp-connect-remote.md

author	ggailey777
ms.service	azure-functions
ms.topic	include
ms.date	02/20/2026
ms.author	glenga

Your MCP server is now running in Azure. The project template includes a remote-mcp-function entry in .vscode/mcp.json that's already configured to connect to your remote server. When you start this server, VS Code prompts you for the function app name and system key needed to access the remote MCP endpoint.

1. Run this script that uses azd and the Azure CLI to print out both the function app name and the system key (mcp_extension) required to access the tools:

   Linux/macOS

   eval $(azd env get-values --output dotenv)
   MCP_EXTENSION_KEY=$(az functionapp keys list --resource-group $AZURE_RESOURCE_GROUP \
       --name $AZURE_FUNCTION_NAME --query "systemKeys.mcp_extension" -o tsv)
   printf "Function app name: %s\n" "$SERVICE_API_NAME"
   printf "MCP Server key: %s\n" "$MCP_EXTENSION_KEY"

   Windows

   azd env get-values --output dotenv | ForEach-Object { 
       if ($_ -match "^([^=]+)=(.*)$") { 
           Set-Variable -Name $matches[1] -Value ($matches[2] -replace '"', '')
       } 
   }
   $MCP_EXTENSION_KEY = az functionapp keys list --resource-group $AZURE_RESOURCE_GROUP `
       --name $AZURE_FUNCTION_NAME --query "systemKeys.mcp_extension" -o tsv
   Write-Host "Function app name: $SERVICE_API_NAME"
   Write-Host "MCP Server key: $MCP_EXTENSION_KEY"

   ---

2. In .vscode/mcp.json, select Start above the remote-mcp-function configuration.

3. When prompted, enter the function app name and system key values from the previous step.