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Get started with the Azure MCP Server in IntelliJ

The Azure MCP Server uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to standardize integrations between AI apps and external tools and data sources, allowing for AI systems to perform operations that are context-aware of your Azure resources.

In this article, you learn how to complete the following tasks:

  • Install and authenticate to the Azure MCP Server
  • Connect to Azure MCP Server using IntelliJ's AI-powered tools
  • Run prompts to test Azure MCP Server operations and interact with Azure resources

Prerequisites

Install the Azure MCP Server

To install and configure Azure MCP Server in IntelliJ, choose one of the following options:

  1. Select the IDE and Project Settings gear icon, and then choose Plugins...

    A screenshot showing how to install plugins.

  2. In the Plugins panel of the Settings dialog, search for Azure ToolKit for IntelliJ.

  3. Select the matching result, and then select Install.

    A screenshot showing how to install the Azure MCP Server plugin.

    Note

    Azure MCP Server is only included with the Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ installation if you already have the GitHub Copilot for IntelliJ plugin installed.

Authenticate to Azure

Azure MCP Server provides a seamless authentication experience using Azure accounts and Microsoft Entra ID. To use Azure MCP Server, you must first authenticate to Azure using local development tools such as the Azure CLI, Azure Developer CLI, Visual Studio, or Visual Studio Code. Azure MCP Server automatically discovers your credentials from these tools and uses them to authenticate to Azure services.

  1. For example, to sign in using the Azure CLI:

    az login

  2. Verify your authentication status by running the following command to see which account and subscription you're currently signed in with:

    az account show

  3. Ensure your user account has the appropriate role assignments for the Azure services you want to interact with. The Azure resources you intend to access with Azure MCP Server must already exist within your Azure subscription. For example, common role assignments include:

    • Blob Storage Data Contributor - Read and write blob data in storage accounts.
    • Storage Account Contributor - Manage storage account configurations.
    • Contributor - General resource management across your subscription.
    • Reader - Read-only access to Azure resources.

    For more information about role assignments and local development authentication, see Authenticate .NET apps to Azure services during local development.

Use prompts to test the Azure MCP Server

  1. Select the AI Chat button on the right toolbar to open IntelliJ's AI assistant interface.

  2. Enter a prompt that utilizes Azure MCP Server capabilities, such as:

    List my Azure storage accounts

  3. IntelliJ prompts you to run a tool to retrieve the storage accounts, such as storage account list. Select Run tool to continue.

    The output should resemble the following text:

    The following resource groups are available for your subscription:

1. **DefaultResourceGroup-EUS** (Location: `eastus`)
2. **rg-testing** (Location: `centralus`)
3. **rg-azd** (Location: `eastus2`)
4. **msdocs-sample** (Location: `southcentralus`)
5. **ai-testing** (Location: `eastus2`)

Let me know if you need further details or actions related to any of these resource groups!

  4. Explore more Azure MCP operations using other relevant prompts, such as:

    List all of the storage accounts in my subscription
Get the available tables in my storage accounts
Show me the configuration of my App Service instances

Next steps

Learn more about Azure MCP Server tools