MgCu can be prepared by hydrogenation of MgCu or the reaction of magnesium hydride and metallic copper at elevated temperature and pressure:
: 2 MgCu + 3 H → 3 MgH + MgCu
: MgH + 2 Cu → MgCu + H
MgCu can also be prepared by reacting of stoichiometric amounts of metals at about 380 °C in the presence of excess copper.