> ## 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. # Get started with Unstructured Foundation > Install Unstructured Foundation, connect to your files' sources, and start querying your files from any MCP-compatible AI tool. To jump immediately into this quickstart, skip ahead to the [requirements](#requirements). Unstructured Foundation overview 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. This quickstart demonstrates how to use Claude Code in your terminal to work with the [Unstructured Foundation MCP server](/foundation/overview). The Foundation MCP server supports other AI tools that support MCP (Model Context Protocol) server connections. However, this quickstart does not demonstrate how to use those tools with Foundation. Some common tools include: * AI code editors and IDEs such as Visual Studio Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and JetBrains IDEs. * AI chat interfaces and desktop assistants such as Codex. To learn how to connect an AI tool other than Claude Code, see the [Unstructured Foundation installation overview](/foundation/install/overview). ## Requirements Before you can begin this quickstart, you must have the following: * Acceptance by Unstructured into its Early Access program for Foundation. [Add your name to the Early Access interest list](https://unstructured.io/foundation-early-access). Do not begin this quickstart until you have received your Early Access acceptance email from Unstructured. * A Claude plan. [Sign up for Claude](https://claude.ai/login). * Claude Code installed on your local development machine. [Install Claude Code from your terminal](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/quickstart). To learn how to connect an AI tool other than Claude Code, see the [Unstructured Foundation installation overview](/foundation/install/overview). ## Set up Foundation 1. From your terminal, within a Claude Code session, add the Foundation MCP server plugin marketplace: ```bash theme={null} /plugin marketplace add Unstructured-IO/unstructured-foundation-marketplace ``` 2. Use the marketplace you just added to install the Foundation MCP server: ```bash theme={null} /plugin install foundation@unstructured-foundation ``` 3. Reload and then begin connecting to the Foundation MCP server from within a Claude session: ```bash theme={null} /reload-plugins /mcp ``` Find and select the `plugin:foundation:foundation` entry, and then select `Authenticate`. 4. A web browser tab will appear, prompting you to begin authenticating with Foundation. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish authenticating. ## Connect to and index your source 1. Within a Claude Code session in your terminal, enter the following prompt: ```text theme={null} /foundation:connect ``` 2. Click the link that appears in the response. If the link does not appear, go to the following link in your web browser instead: [https://foundation.unstructured.io/connect](https://foundation.unstructured.io/connect) 3. If prompted, log in to Foundation. 4. The **Connect sources to use Foundation** page appears. Connecting to a new source from Claude Code If this page does not appear after you sign in to Foundation, click the **New Source** button to show a page with similar functionality. 5. Click one of the available sources, and then click **Connect**. 6. Follow the on-screen directions to finish connecting to your source. 7. View the source files' ingestion and indexing job's progress. To do this, on the sidebar, click **Summary**. 8. Wait until the source's tile displays **Fully indexed**. 9. You can now start using Claude Code to work with the generated index. For example, you can ask Claude Code questions such as the following: ```text theme={null} What is a summary of the kinds of information that are available in the Unstructured Foundation index about my sources? ``` ```text theme={null} What are some examples of the kinds of questions I can ask the Unstructured Foundation index about my sources? ``` ## (Optional) Clean up After you connect Foundation to your source files, Foundation periodically runs an automatic process to check whether any of your source files' contents have changed. Foundation will then re-ingest and re-index each source file that it determines has changed since its last check. This process, if left running, can result in additional time and costs. To have Foundation pause or resume periodically running this automatic process, then follow the instructions to [pause or resume the source](/foundation/sources#pause-or-resume-indexing-a-source). To stop Foundation from periodically running this automatic process, and to also have Foundation delete all of its ingested and indexed information about your source files, follow the instructions to [remove the source](/foundation/sources#remove-a-source). ## Next steps * To learn more about how to use Unstructured Foundation, enter the following prompt in Claude Code: `/foundation:help` * [Manage your Foundation sources](/foundation/sources): Add, change, and remove sources from Foundation. * [Foundation storage](/foundation/storage): Understand what artifacts that Foundation generates, indexes, and stores about your sources. * [Troubleshoot Foundation](/foundation/troubleshooting): Solutions for common issues. ## Questions? Need help? * For general questions about Unstructured products and pricing, email Unstructured Sales at [sales@unstructured.io](mailto:sales@unstructured.io). * For technical support, see [request support](/support/request).