Unsplash MCP Server

What is Unsplash MCP Server?

A Model Context Protocol server that provides Unsplash photo search and retrieval capabilities. It enables LLMs to search, retrieve, and get random photos from Unsplash's extensive collection. The server is implemented in Go and exposes tools like search_photos, get_photo, and random_photo.

How to use Unsplash MCP Server?

Install via pre-built binary or build from source (Go 1.20+). Set the UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEY environment variable with your Unsplash API Access Key. Run the server with unsplash-mcp-server (default stdio mode) or with --transport sse for web-based connections. Configure as an MCP server in Claude.app, Cursor, or Chatwise by specifying the command and environment variable.

Key features of Unsplash MCP Server

• Advanced image search with keyword, color, orientation, sorting, and pagination
• Detailed photo information including EXIF data, location, and photographer
• Random photo selection with flexible filtering options
• Multiple connection modes: Standard I/O and Server-Sent Events (SSE)
• Support for macOS, Linux, and Windows platforms

Use cases of Unsplash MCP Server

• Search for photos by keyword, color, or orientation for visual content needs
• Retrieve detailed metadata about a specific photo (EXIF, location, photographer)
• Get random photos filtered by topics, collections, username, or content safety
• Integrate Unsplash image search directly into LLM chat applications via MCP

FAQ from Unsplash MCP Server

What is required to run Unsplash MCP Server?

You need an Unsplash API Access Key (register at the Unsplash Developers Portal) and set it as the UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEY environment variable. The server can run as a pre-built binary or built from source with Go 1.20 or later.

How do I switch between stdio and SSE modes?

Use the --transport command line argument: unsplash-mcp-server for standard I/O (default), or unsplash-mcp-server --transport sse for Server-Sent Events. In SSE mode you can also set the port with --port.

What tools does Unsplash MCP Server provide?

It provides three tools: search_photos (search with filters), get_photo (get photo details by ID), and random_photo (get random photos with optional filters).

Can I get random photos filtered by topic or collection?

Yes. The random_photo tool accepts collections, topics, username, query, orientation, content_filter, and featured parameters.

Does the server support Windows?

Yes. Pre-built binaries are available for Windows x86_64 and ARM64. Installation instructions are provided in the README.