> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.unstructured.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The Unstructured Foundation MCP server

> Learn what the Foundation MCP server is; how it uses your AI tools to link Unstructured to your files' sources; and how to set it up and update your configuration.

<Note>
  Unstructured Foundation is an Early Access product. **Unstructured must accept you into the Early Access program
  before you can begin using Foundation.**
  [Add your name to the Early Access interest list](https://unstructured.io/foundation-early-access).

  Unstructured is currently accepting a limited number of participants into the Early Access program at its discretion, with
  plans to expand access to a more general audience in the future.

  The following information is being provided to give you an advance preview of possible future functionality. Unstructured
  makes no express claims as to what extent this information will reflect the state of the product upon initial
  general availability.
</Note>

## What the Foundation MCP server is

The Foundation MCP (Model Context Protocol) server is a hosted service. It exposes your [enrichment index](/foundation/storage) to any MCP-compatible AI tool. When your AI tool asks a question about your files, it calls the Foundation MCP server. The server queries the index and returns relevant content.

The server is shared infrastructure: every MCP-compatible AI tool you use connects to the same endpoint, catalog, and tools. Switching AI tools does not require reconfiguring Foundation.

## When and where the server is used

Your AI tool calls the Foundation MCP server automatically whenever you ask a question about your files. You do not invoke it directly.

## Setting up the Foundation MCP server

The Foundation MCP server is a hosted service. You do not install or run the hosted service itself. Foundation provisions access when you install the Foundation MCP server into your AI tools.

Setup is complete when the installer confirms success. For the full installation walkthrough, see [Get started with Unstructured Foundation](/foundation/quickstart).

The Foundation MCP server can generate links from within your AI tools that, when followed, take you to a user interface in your default web browser where you can create and manage your sources in Foundation. To generate these links, from your AI tool, ask one of the following:

* `Generate a link to connect Unstructured Foundation to a new source.`
* `Generate a link to manage my Unstructured Foundation sources.`

In addition to using your AI tools to generate links to create or manage your sources in Foundation, you can use your web browser to go to either of the following links at any time:

* Connect to a new source: [https://foundation.unstructured.io/connect](https://foundation.unstructured.io/connect)
* Manage your existing sources: [https://foundation.unstructured.io](https://foundation.unstructured.io)

For {/* the Codex CLI, */}Claude Code{/*, and Codex Desktop*/}; and for Claude Desktop for Max, Pro, Team, and Enterprise users; the following skills are available:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    * `/foundation:connect` - Creates a link that, when followed, guides you through connecting Foundation to a new source.
    * `/foundation:help` - Teaches you how to start using Foundation.
    * `/foundation:manage` - Creates a link that, when followed, guides you through managing your sources in Foundation.
    * `/foundation:search` - Searches connected sources for documents matching a query, with optional filters by source,
      file type, date ingested, or date modified.
    * `/foundation:start` -  Checks the readiness of Foundation's processing jobs and recommends next steps.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Claude Desktop">
    * `/foundation:connect` - Creates a link that, when followed, guides you through connecting Foundation to a new source.
    * `/foundation:help` - Teaches you how to start using Foundation.
    * `/foundation:manage` - Creates a link that, when followed, guides you through managing your sources in Foundation.
    * `/foundation:search` - Searches connected sources for documents matching a query, with optional filters by source,
      file type, date ingested, or date modified.
    * `/foundation:start` -  Checks the readiness of Foundation's processing jobs and recommends next steps.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## MCP tools

The Foundation MCP server exposes a set of tools, which your AI tools call automatically in response to natural language questions. You typically do not invoke these MCP tools directly. To get the list of available MCP tools, from your AI tool, ask the following:

`What are all of the tools exposed by the Unstructured Foundation MCP server, and what does each of these tools do?`

## Next steps

* [Get started with Unstructured Foundation](/foundation/quickstart): Install the MCP server and connect your first data source.
* [Foundation sources](/foundation/sources): Connect and manage the data sources that Foundation indexes.