Unstructured Foundation
Unstructured Foundation connects your data sources, processes files into searchable documents, and lets your AI assistant answer questions from the documents you have made available.
Use it when you want to ask natural-language questions across connected sources such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, S3, and other document stores without leaving your workflow.
There are two pieces to this plugin:
- The MCP connector, which supplies the data and tools (source setup, processing status, search, retrieval). Server URL:
https://mcp.foundation.unstructured.io/mcp.
- The skills, which teach the assistant how to use those tools well.
In Claude Code and Codex, installing the plugin delivers both pieces. In Claude Chat, Claude Desktop, and Cowork, the connector currently has to be added separately (see below).
Install in Claude Code
Add the marketplace, then install the foundation plugin from the unstructured-foundation package:
claude plugin marketplace add Unstructured-IO/unstructured-foundation-marketplace
claude plugin install foundation@unstructured-foundation
Or install from inside a Claude session:
/plugin marketplace add Unstructured-IO/unstructured-foundation-marketplace
/plugin install foundation@unstructured-foundation
After installing, start a new conversation so the Foundation commands and document guidance are available. The first tool call triggers a browser sign-in (OTP over email).
Install in Claude Chat, Claude Desktop, or Cowork
No command line needed, but the two pieces are set up separately. Installing the plugin alone reliably brings in the skills, but the bundled MCP connector does not reliably connect on Desktop and Chat, so add the connector first.
Step 1, add the MCP connector:
- Go to Customize, then Connectors.
- Add a custom connector.
- Enter the server URL
https://mcp.foundation.unstructured.io/mcp and give it a name such as foundation.
- Click Add, then Connect, and complete the sign-in.
- Confirm it is active: in a chat, click the "+" button, open Connectors, and check the connector is toggled on with its tools listed.
Step 2, install the plugin for the skills:
- Open the Customize menu and select the Plugins tab.
- Under Personal plugins, click "+" and choose Add marketplace.
- Enter the repository, either
https://github.com/Unstructured-IO/unstructured-foundation-marketplace or the shorthand Unstructured-IO/unstructured-foundation-marketplace.
- The plugin appears in the Plugins list. Click Install.
- Open the installed plugin to review its components and enable what you need.
The skills are available in your next conversation, and the connector from Step 1 supplies the tools they use.
What works on each surface
| Component | Claude Code | Cowork | Claude Chat (web and Desktop chat tab) |
|---|
| Skills | works | works | works |
| MCP connector | works (bundled) | works (bundled) | works only after Step 1 (separate add) |
| Slash commands | works | works | not available; ask in plain language instead |
Availability by Claude plan
| Plan | Install the plugin (skills)? | Adding the MCP connector |
|---|
| Free | No, plugins require a paid plan | One custom connector, added by the user |
| Pro / Max | Yes, self-serve | Self-serve via Customize, Connectors |
| Team | Yes, org admin controls apply | An Owner must enable it for the org first, then each member authenticates individually |
| Enterprise | Yes, unless restricted by admin policy | Owner enables org-wide, then members connect; admins can restrict connectors per role |
On Team and Enterprise, enabling a connector for the org does not automatically grant access. Each user still authenticates individually.
Install in Codex (CLI and Desktop)
Codex supports the same SKILL.md skill format and installs plugins from a GitHub-hosted marketplace. Codex CLI, the Codex app, and the IDE extension share one config, so installing once covers all Codex surfaces.
codex plugin marketplace add Unstructured-IO/unstructured-foundation-marketplace
codex plugin add foundation@unstructured-foundation
Or install foundation interactively from the plugin browser (/plugins inside a Codex session, or the Plugins panel in the Codex app).
The bundled MCP server uses OAuth. After installing, log in once:
codex mcp login foundation
Codex has no slash-command surface for plugins. Invoke the skills by asking in plain language ("are my files ready?", "connect a new source") or reference the plugin explicitly with @foundation.
Commands
In Claude Code and Cowork, Foundation exposes five slash commands:
