Bring Stock Photography
to Cursor
Learn how to connect Unsplash Extended to Cursor and start using 28 AI agent tools in minutes. Fully managed, enterprise secure, and ready to use without writing a single line of code.
GDPR Free for SubscribersCompatible with every major AI agent and IDE
Gemini
What is the Unsplash Extended MCP Server?
Connect your Unsplash developer account to any AI agent and integrate the world's most popular open image library into your creative workflows.
What you can do
- Photo Discovery — Search for specific imagery, list editorial feeds, or fetch random photos filtered by orientation, topics, or collections.
- Collection Management — Create, update, and organize photo collections. Add or remove images to curate your visual assets.
- User Insights — Retrieve public profiles, list user-specific uploads, and analyze engagement through detailed statistics.
- Engagement — Like or unlike photos and track downloads to comply with Unsplash API guidelines.
- Topic Exploration — Browse curated topics and fetch high-quality photos categorized by the Unsplash editorial team.
How it works
- Subscribe to this server
- Enter your Unsplash Access Key (and optionally a Bearer Token for user-specific actions)
- Start searching and managing images from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client
Who is this for?
- Content Creators — find the perfect featured image for articles or social media posts without leaving the chat.
- Designers — quickly pull high-resolution inspiration or placeholders directly into your workspace.
- Developers — automate the retrieval of image metadata and statistics for application testing and content population.
Built-in capabilities (28)
Add a photo to a collection (requires user auth)
Create a new collection (requires user auth)
Delete a collection (requires user auth)
Get a single collection by ID
Get photos in a specific collection
Get the authenticated user profile
Get a single photo by ID
Get statistics for a specific photo
Get one or more random photos
List related collections for a given collection ID
Get a single topic by ID or slug
Get photos for a specific topic
Get a user public profile
Get user download and view statistics
Like a photo on behalf of the authenticated user
List all public collections
List photos from the editorial feed
List all topics
List collections created by a user
List photos uploaded by a user
Remove a photo from a collection (requires user auth)
Search collections by keyword
Search photos by keyword
Search users by keyword
Track a photo download (Required for attribution)
Remove a like from a photo on behalf of the authenticated user
Update an existing collection (requires user auth)
Update the authenticated user profile
Why Cursor?
Cursor's Agent mode turns Unsplash Extended into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from Unsplash Extended and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 28 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.
- —
Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context
- —
Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards
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MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment
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VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools
Unsplash Extended in Cursor
Unsplash Extended and 4,000+ other MCP servers. One platform. One governance layer.
Teams that connect Unsplash Extended to Cursor through Vinkius don't need to source, host, or maintain individual MCP servers. Every tool call runs inside a hardened runtime with credential isolation, DLP, and a signed audit chain.
Raw MCP | Vinkius | |
|---|---|---|
| Server catalog | Find and host yourself | 4,000+ managed |
| Infrastructure | Self-hosted | Sandboxed V8 isolates |
| Credential handling | Plaintext in config | Vault + runtime injection |
| Data loss prevention | None | Configurable DLP policies |
| Kill switch | None | Global instant shutdown |
| Financial circuit breakers | None | Per-server limits + alerts |
| Audit trail | None | Ed25519 signed logs |
| SIEM log streaming | None | Splunk, Datadog, Webhook |
| Honeytokens | None | Canary alerts on leak |
| Custom domains | Not applicable | DNS challenge verified |
| GDPR compliance | Manual effort | Automated purge + export |
Why teams choose Vinkius for Unsplash Extended in Cursor
The Unsplash Extended MCP Server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS — a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts. All 28 tools execute in hardened sandboxes optimized for native MCP execution.
Your AI agents in Cursor only access the data you authorize, with DLP that blocks sensitive information from ever reaching the model, kill switch for instant shutdown, and up to 60% token savings. Enterprise-grade infrastructure, zero maintenance.
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
How Vinkius secures
Unsplash Extended for Cursor
Every tool call from Cursor to the Unsplash Extended MCP Server is protected by DLP redaction, cryptographic audit chains, V8 sandbox isolation, kill switch, and financial circuit breakers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fetch a random photo based on a specific search term or topic?
Yes! Use the get_random_photo tool. You can provide a query (like 'nature') or topics IDs to filter the random selection to exactly what you need.
Is it possible to create and manage my own photo collections via the AI?
Absolutely. With a valid Bearer Token, you can use create_collection, add_photo_to_collection, and remove_photo_from_collection to curate your Unsplash assets directly through conversation.
How can I check the performance or popularity of a specific photo?
You can use the get_photo_statistics tool by providing the photo ID. It will return detailed metrics including total views and downloads.
What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?
Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.
Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?
Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.
Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?
No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.
How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?
Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.
Tools not appearing in Cursor
Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.
Server shows as disconnected
Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.
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