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Enabling write mode

Write tools ship disabled. A new install sets allowwrite to 0, and the code treats the setting as off if it has never been saved.

Turn it on

  1. Open Site administration → Plugins → Local plugins → MCP server.
  2. Tick Allow write tools (local_mcpserver/allowwrite).
  3. Save.

While it is off, write tools are not listed in tools/list. If a client calls one anyway, the answer is "Write tools are disabled by the administrator.", even for a read-only token.

What a write call still needs

  • A token with the write (or admin) scope.
  • The local/mcpserver:write capability. By default: editing teachers and managers, in contexts where the role is assigned.
  • The normal Moodle capability for the action, the same one the user interface checks. See the tools reference.
  • The tool itself enabled in the Tools section of the settings.

The tools with the admin scope count as write tools here, including list_policies and get_policy_acceptances, which only read. The exception is search_users, which works with write mode off. get_conversation_messages is a read tool, but its markAsRead: true option needs the write scope and write mode.

Deletions

delete_activity and delete_section default to dryRun: true. A dry run returns the record that would be removed and changes nothing. The deletion only happens when the call sends dryRun: false and confirm: true together.