An astronaut overseeing a futuristic data hub

Connect Unsplash Extended to ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini

Set it up once and it works in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and any other client you love. It all runs safely in the background, so you can relax and focus on what really matters. Pull high-resolution imagery directly into your creative workflow.

Ask AI about this Connector

Developed, maintained, and hosted by Vinkius.

MCP VERIFIED · PRODUCTION READY · VINKIUS GUARANTEED

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Works with modern AI clients that support MCP, including ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

ChatGPTClaudeCursorPerplexityGeminiMicrosoft CopilotRaycastMeta AI

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

No other AI tool gives you this. Your workflow runs in the client you already love, your account stays protected, and you decide what the agent can and cannot do. It is the whole reason to make the switch.

Each Connector lives inside our infrastructure, the same place where your workflow runs. The three things below are already part of it, working quietly in the background so you never have to think about them. Nothing to add, nothing to set up, nothing to worry about.

A futuristic MCP client docking bay
V8 Isolate01

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed V8 runtime — no access to your files, your system, or other servers. A Connector never sees past its own request.

Kill Switch02

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

One action deactivates every Connector, revokes every token, and ends every session at once. AI Governance keeps the record.

FinOps per User03

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Every user keeps their own connections and credentials, isolated from everyone else. Anything that would cross your spending limit is held for your approval, not billed.

Three controls, built into the layer your AI connects through.

Curated set · 28 capabilities

We ship only the actions that matter.

Capability set01 / 07

01-04

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 28 available through Unsplash.

  1. 01

    Add photo to collection

    Adds a specific photo to one of your existing collections. This requires your Unsplash user authentication.

  2. 02

    Create collection

    Starts a new photo collection in your Unsplash account. This requires user authentication.

  3. 03

    Get me

    Retrieves the profile information for your currently authenticated Unsplash user.

  4. 04

    Get photo

    Fetches the full details and metadata for a single photo using its unique ID.

Capability set02 / 07

05-08

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 28 available through Unsplash.

  1. 05

    Get random photo

    Returns one or more random photos from the Unsplash library.

  2. 06

    Get user

    Fetches the public profile data for a specific Unsplash user.

  3. 07

    Get user statistics

    Provides download and view counts for a specific user's content.

  4. 08

    List user photos

    Returns a list of all photos uploaded by a specific user.

Capability set03 / 07

09-12

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 28 available through Unsplash.

  1. 09

    Search collections

    Searches through Unsplash collections using a keyword.

  2. 10

    Search users

    Finds Unsplash users by searching for specific keywords.

  3. 11

    Unlike photo

    Removes a like from a photo you previously liked. This requires user authentication.

  4. 12

    Update collection

    Modifies the details of an existing collection. This requires user authentication.

Capability set04 / 07

13-16

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 28 available through Unsplash.

  1. 13

    Remove photo from collection

    Deletes a photo from a collection you manage. This requires user authentication.

  2. 14

    Search photos

    Searches the entire Unsplash database for photos matching your keywords.

  3. 15

    Track photo download

    Logs a photo download to ensure proper attribution and compliance with Unsplash guidelines.

  4. 16

    Delete collection

    Permanently removes a collection from your account. This requires user authentication.

Capability set05 / 07

17-20

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 28 available through Unsplash.

  1. 17

    Get collection photos

    Lists all photos contained within a specific collection.

  2. 18

    Get collection

    Fetches the details and metadata for a specific collection by its ID.

  3. 19

    Get photo statistics

    Retrieves engagement data like views and downloads for a single photo.

  4. 20

    Get related collections

    Finds collections that are visually or contextually similar to a given collection.

Capability set06 / 07

21-24

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 28 available through Unsplash.

  1. 21

    Get topic

    Fetches information about a specific Unsplash topic using its ID or slug.

  2. 22

    Get topic photos

    Returns a list of photos categorized under a specific Unsplash topic.

  3. 23

    Like photo

    Adds a like to a photo on your behalf. This requires user authentication.

  4. 24

    List collections

    Retrieves a list of all public collections available on Unsplash.

Capability set07 / 07

25-28

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 28 available through Unsplash.

  1. 25

    List photos

    Fetches the current editorial feed of photos from Unsplash.

  2. 26

    List topics

    Returns a list of all available topics on the platform.

  3. 27

    List user collections

    Shows all collections created by a specific user.

  4. 28

    Update me

    Updates your own authenticated Unsplash user profile information.

Real work

What teams actually run

01

Article Illustration

An editor asks the agent to find three landscape photos of 'forests' to accompany a new blog post.

02

Design Mockups

A designer requests random architectural photos to use as background placeholders in a UI layout.

03

Data Analysis

A developer pulls download statistics for a specific photographer to analyze engagement trends.

04

Collection Building

A user instructs the agent to create a new collection named 'Summer Vibes' and add specific photos to it.

Automate a task

Put Unsplash to work on one thing.

Step-by-step automations your AI runs through this Connector: the workflow, the prompts to start with, and the exact capabilities behind each move.

One connector, every AI

Unsplash works with the most popular AI clients.

These are the most popular clients, each with a step-by-step guide: one link, set up once, with governance and visibility built in. And because everything runs on the MCP standard, the same connection also works in any other compatible client — nothing to rebuild.

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

You don't need a client to put Unsplash to work: the same hosted connection plugs into your own applications and agent code, with the same governance on every request. Build with it, chat with it — one connection for both.

Observed, not estimated

1207ms average. Fast in production.

Unsplash is checked daily against the live service.

Daily averagePeak 1514ms
Oct 3Today
Fastest day
905ms
Slowest day
1514ms
14-day trend
Slowing+22%

Connect your client

One URL. Every client.

Activate the Connector, copy your link, and paste it into the client you already use. 28 capabilities arrive ready to run.

Preview access · not provider authentication

The vk_preview_* token belongs to Vinkius preview infrastructure. It lets Claude discover and display the capabilities of Unsplash, so you can see the experience inside your AI.

It does not authenticate your account with Unsplash. Actions requiring credentials or live account data may not run until you activate the Connector and authorize the service.

Unsplash Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_fKBGHczIzZlTknCtrxQZKRbVfzKOlG1McKHHN2Rf/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Unsplash capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unsplash-extended-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_fKBGHczIzZlTknCtrxQZKRbVfzKOlG1McKHHN2Rf/mcp"
    }
  }
}
  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Step-by-step instructions for each client are in the guide. How to connect

Guided setup for Claude? Set up Unsplash in Claude and other AIs

See all the AI clients this connector works with ↑

Who it's for

Built for the work Unsplash owners hand off.

This MCP is built for anyone who needs to pull high-quality imagery into their digital workspace without manual searching.

  • 01

    Content Creators

    They ask the agent to find featured images for articles or social posts.

  • 02

    Designers

    They use the agent to grab high-resolution inspiration or placeholders.

  • 03

    Developers

    They automate the retrieval of image metadata and stats for testing or content population.

FAQ

Questions Unsplash owners ask.

  • 01

    Do I need a developer account to use this MCP?

    Yes, you will need to provide an Unsplash Access Key. If you want to manage collections or like photos, you will also need a Bearer Token for user authentication.

  • 02

    Which AI clients can I use with this?

    This MCP works with any compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

  • 03

    Can I manage my existing Unsplash collections?

    Yes, once you provide your authentication credentials, your agent can create, update, or delete collections and add or remove photos from them.

  • 04

    How do I handle photo attribution?

    The MCP includes a capability to track photo downloads, which helps you stay compliant with Unsplash API guidelines.

  • 05

    Can I search for photos by specific topics?

    Yes, you can search for photos using keywords, browse specific topics, or pull from the editorial feed.

  • 06

    Can I fetch a random photo based on a specific search term or topic?

    Yes! Use the get_random_photo capability. You can provide a query (like 'nature') or topics IDs to filter the random selection to exactly what you need.

  • 07

    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.

  • 08

    How can I check the performance or popularity of a specific photo?

    You can use the get_photo_statistics capability by providing the photo ID. It will return detailed metrics including total views and downloads.

Connect Unsplash to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more