Sketchfab
Allows interaction with Sketchfab's 3D model platform through Claude or Cursor, enabling users to search, view details, and download 3D models directly from the AI interface.
What is Sketchfab?
Sketchfab is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to allows interaction with sketchfab's 3d model platform through claude or cursor, enabling users to search, view details, and download 3d models directly from the ai interface.
Allows interaction with Sketchfab's 3D model platform through Claude or Cursor, enabling users to search, view details, and download 3D models directly from the AI interface.
This server falls under the Search & Data Extraction category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Allows interaction with Sketchfab's 3D model platform throug
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx sketchfab-mcp-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Sketchfab
Sketchfab MCP Server connects Claude and Cursor to Sketchfab's library of over 10 million 3D models, exposing three tools for searching models by keyword, retrieving detailed metadata for a specific model, and downloading models in formats including glTF, GLB, USDZ, and source. Designers, game developers, and 3D artists use it to discover and pull assets into their workflow through natural language without leaving their AI-assisted development environment.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 16 or later installed
- npm for installing dependencies and building the project
- A Sketchfab account with an API token (free accounts are supported; downloadable models may require Pro)
- SKETCHFAB_API_KEY obtained from your Sketchfab account settings
- An MCP client such as Claude Desktop or Cursor
Clone and install dependencies
Clone the repository and install the Node.js dependencies.
git clone https://github.com/gregkop/sketchfab-mcp-server.git && cd sketchfab-mcp-server && npm installBuild the project
Compile the TypeScript source into the build directory. The compiled entry point is build/index.js.
npm run buildObtain your Sketchfab API key
Log in to Sketchfab, go to your account Settings → Password & API, and copy your API token. This key authenticates all search and download requests.
Add the server to Claude Desktop
Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and add the server entry with your absolute path to the built index.js and your API key.
{
"mcpServers": {
"sketchfab": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/sketchfab-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
"env": {
"SKETCHFAB_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
}
}
}
}Add to Cursor (optional)
In Cursor, open Settings → MCP and add a new server with the node command and the absolute path to build/index.js. Pass the API key via the --api-key argument or the SKETCHFAB_API_KEY environment variable.
node /absolute/path/to/sketchfab-mcp-server/build/index.js --api-key YOUR_API_KEYSketchfab Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration using the environment variable approach for the API key. Alternatively pass --api-key as a command-line argument in the args array.
{
"mcpServers": {
"sketchfab": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/Users/you/sketchfab-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
"env": {
"SKETCHFAB_API_KEY": "your_sketchfab_api_token"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Use natural language to search Sketchfab's model library and download assets directly from your AI client.
- "Search Sketchfab for downloadable low-poly tree models and show the top 5 results"
- "Get the details for Sketchfab model with uid abc123def456"
- "Download that model in glTF format and save it to ~/Downloads/models/"
- "Find animated character models tagged 'game-ready' on Sketchfab"
- "Search for architectural interior models in the furniture category"Troubleshooting Sketchfab
Search returns results but download fails with a 403 or permission error
Downloading models on Sketchfab requires the model to have downloads enabled by its author and may require a Sketchfab Pro account for certain assets. Check the model's download permissions in its details page. Verify your API key has the correct scopes enabled in your Sketchfab account settings.
Server fails to start — 'Cannot find module' error
Ensure you ran 'npm run build' after 'npm install'. The build directory must exist and contain index.js before the server can be launched. If the build directory is missing, re-run the build step.
API key not recognized — 401 Unauthorized responses
Confirm your API key is copied correctly from Sketchfab Settings → Password & API. The key is a long alphanumeric string. Check that the SKETCHFAB_API_KEY environment variable in your client config exactly matches this value with no extra spaces or newline characters.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sketchfab
What is Sketchfab?
Sketchfab is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows interaction with sketchfab's 3d model platform through claude or cursor, enabling users to search, view details, and download 3d models directly from the ai interface. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Sketchfab?
Follow the installation instructions on the Sketchfab GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Sketchfab?
Sketchfab works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Sketchfab free to use?
Yes, Sketchfab is open source and available under the ISC License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Sketchfab in Your Editor
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Quick Config Preview
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