Unsplash
a Swift implementation of hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server, with additional features like get_photo and random_photo
What is Unsplash?
Unsplash is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to swift implementation of hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server, with additional features like get_photo and random_photo
a Swift implementation of hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server, with additional features like get_photo and random_photo
This server falls under the Search & Data Extraction category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- a Swift implementation of hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server, wi
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx unsplash-mcp-server-goConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Unsplash
The Unsplash MCP Server Go is a compiled Go binary that connects AI assistants to the Unsplash photo library via three MCP tools: search_photos for keyword-based discovery with color and orientation filters, get_photo for detailed metadata and EXIF data on specific images, and random_photo for serendipitous image retrieval filtered by topic, collection, or query. Designers, content creators, and developers use it to let Claude or other MCP clients find and reference professional stock photography without leaving their workflow.
Prerequisites
- An Unsplash developer account and API access key from https://unsplash.com/developers
- macOS (Apple Silicon or Intel) or Linux x86_64 for the pre-built binary
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- curl and unzip/tar for downloading the binary
Download the pre-built binary for your platform
Download and install the unsplash-mcp-server binary from the GitHub releases page.
# macOS Apple Silicon
curl -L https://github.com/okooo5km/unsplash-mcp-server-go/releases/latest/download/unsplash-mcp-server-macos-arm64.zip -o unsplash-mcp-server.zip
unzip unsplash-mcp-server.zip
chmod +x unsplash-mcp-server
xattr -d com.apple.quarantine unsplash-mcp-server
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
mv unsplash-mcp-server ~/.local/bin/
# Linux x86_64
curl -L https://github.com/okooo5km/unsplash-mcp-server-go/releases/latest/download/unsplash-mcp-server-linux-amd64.tar.gz -o unsplash-mcp-server.tar.gz
tar -xzf unsplash-mcp-server.tar.gz
chmod +x unsplash-mcp-server
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
mv unsplash-mcp-server ~/.local/bin/Verify the binary is accessible
Confirm ~/.local/bin is in your PATH and the binary runs correctly.
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
unsplash-mcp-server --versionObtain an Unsplash API access key
Register a developer application at https://unsplash.com/developers to receive an access key.
Add the server to your MCP client configuration
Configure your MCP client to run unsplash-mcp-server with your Unsplash access key as an environment variable.
Unsplash Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration for the Unsplash MCP server using the installed binary.
{
"mcpServers": {
"unsplash": {
"command": "unsplash-mcp-server",
"env": {
"UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEY": "your-unsplash-access-key"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts for searching and retrieving photos through the Unsplash MCP server.
- "Find 5 landscape-oriented blue mountain photos on Unsplash"
- "Get details and EXIF data for Unsplash photo ID Dwu85P9SOIk"
- "Give me a random coffee shop photo in portrait orientation"
- "Search for images of modern minimalist office spaces"
- "Find 3 random featured nature photos"Troubleshooting Unsplash
Binary is blocked on macOS with 'cannot be opened' error
Run: xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ~/.local/bin/unsplash-mcp-server to remove the macOS quarantine attribute added when the file was downloaded from the internet.
API returns 401 Unauthorized
Double-check the UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEY value in your MCP config. It must be the Access Key (not the Secret Key) from your Unsplash developer application dashboard.
unsplash-mcp-server command not found when Claude starts
Ensure ~/.local/bin is in PATH for the shell that launches your MCP client. Add export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH" to your ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc and restart the terminal (and Claude Desktop).
Frequently Asked Questions about Unsplash
What is Unsplash?
Unsplash is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that swift implementation of hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server, with additional features like get_photo and random_photo It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Unsplash?
Follow the installation instructions on the Unsplash GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Unsplash?
Unsplash works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Unsplash free to use?
Yes, Unsplash is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Unsplash in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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