How do I install Unfold?

Unfold is a local plugin. Install it using PyPI package: bytestay-unfold-mcp and add the generated configuration snippet to your AI app's MCP config file. Then restart your AI app.

What credentials does Unfold need?

Unfold requires the following credentials or environment variables: RAPIDAPI_KEY, API_MARKET_KEY, HFL_MARKETPLACE. You can find setup instructions on the server detail page.

What AI apps work with Unfold?

Unfold uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and works with any MCP-compatible AI app, including Claude, ChatGPT / Codex, Gemini, Copilot, Cursor, and more.

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Unfold MCP Server

by Bytestay

Developer ToolsScan in ProgressMCP RegistryLocal

Free

Server data from the Official MCP Registry

PDF, DOCX, PPTX and XLSX documents to Markdown for AI agents, from a URL or a local file.

About

PDF, DOCX, PPTX and XLSX documents to Markdown for AI agents, from a URL or a local file.

Security Report

0.0

Use Caution0.0Moderate Risk

3 tools verified · Open access · No issues found

Security scores are indicators to help you make informed decisions, not guarantees. Always review permissions before connecting any MCP server.

Remote servers are capped at 8.0 because source code is not available for review. The score reflects endpoint verification only.

What You'll Need

Set these up before or after installing:

Your RapidAPI keyRequired

Environment variable: RAPIDAPI_KEY

Your api.market key, used when RAPIDAPI_KEY is not setRequired

Environment variable: API_MARKET_KEY

rapidapi or apimarket, when both keys are setOptional

Environment variable: HFL_MARKETPLACE

How to Install

Add this to your MCP configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "io-github-bytestay-unfold-mcp": {
      "env": {
        "RAPIDAPI_KEY": "your-rapidapi-key-here",
        "API_MARKET_KEY": "your-api-market-key-here",
        "HFL_MARKETPLACE": "your-hfl-marketplace-here"
      },
      "args": [
        "bytestay-unfold-mcp"
      ],
      "command": "uvx"
    }
  }
}

Documentation

View on GitHub

From the project's GitHub README.

Unfold MCP server

Give your AI agent the content of PDF, Word (DOCX), PowerPoint (PPTX) and Excel (XLSX) documents as Markdown, from a URL or a local file.

The server is open source (MIT). It calls the Unfold API, which is paid, with a free plan.

You use your own key, from RapidAPI or api.market.
Every tool call is one request on your plan.
The free Basic plan has 15 requests a month, with a hard limit, so it never runs up a bill.

1. Get a key

marketplace
RapidAPI	plans
api.market	store

2. Add the server to your MCP client

The server runs locally over stdio with uv. Put your key in its environment.

JSON configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code and most clients):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unfold": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "bytestay-unfold-mcp", "unfold-mcp"],
      "env": { "RAPIDAPI_KEY": "your-rapidapi-key" }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code:

claude mcp add unfold --env RAPIDAPI_KEY=your-rapidapi-key -- uvx --from bytestay-unfold-mcp unfold-mcp

Environment

variable	meaning
`RAPIDAPI_KEY`	your RapidAPI key
`API_MARKET_KEY`	your api.market key, used when `RAPIDAPI_KEY` is not set
`HFL_MARKETPLACE`	`rapidapi` or `apimarket`, when both keys are set

Without a key the server still starts. The first tool call then explains where to get one.

Also listed on Glama:

3. Tools

tool	what it does
`convert_document(url=… \| path=…, max_chars=20000)`	converts one document to Markdown; give a public URL, or a local file to upload

The format is detected from the content.

Every tool returns the API's JSON response.

When the marketplace reports it, quota_remaining is added: the requests left on your plan this month.
Errors are explained in plain words, with what to do next:
- key refused, with the link to subscribe;
- quota reached, with the plans;
- input the API couldn't process, with the API's reason.

Privacy

Local files are read only when a tool is given their path. They are sent to the API for that one request.
The API processes inputs in memory and doesn't store them. See the privacy policy.
Your key is only sent to the marketplace you chose.

Limits

Local files up to 10 MB.
Markdown up to 500,000 characters.
The server needs Python 3.10+ (uv installs it for you).

Development

uv venv && uv pip install -e ".[dev]"
.venv/bin/pytest            # unit tests, no network; 100% coverage required
.venv/bin/ruff check src tests scripts

scripts/e2e_stdio.py unfold runs the server over stdio, as a client would, and calls its tools against the real API. It needs RAPIDAPI_KEY or API_MARKET_KEY.

Licence

MIT. Unfold itself is a paid API with a free plan, run by ByteStay.

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