Connect Desktop Apps to Self Photos MCP

Start the service on Self Photos’ MCP page, then connect your desktop app using the steps below.

Local connection: http://127.0.0.1:17238/mcp is available only on the computer running Self Photos. Remote workspaces, containers, and cloud agents usually cannot connect.

Before you start

1. Start the service on Self Photos’ MCP page.
2. Copy the server URL and headers.Authorization value from the configuration JSON.
3. Add and enable selfphotos using the steps below, then confirm that it is connected.

Replace placeholders in the examples with the matching field values. Keep access tokens private and update each client after rotating a token.

Desktop app setup

Qianwen Office (千问办公)

Open Connectors → Add → Paste JSON configuration, then save. Replace the Authorization placeholder with the value of headers.Authorization from the Self Photos configuration JSON:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "selfphotos": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:17238/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "<copy headers.Authorization from the Self Photos configuration JSON>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Doubao Work (豆包工作)

Open Plugins · Skills · Partners → Add → Create custom connector and enter:

• Name: selfphotos
• Type: HTTP
• URL: http://127.0.0.1:17238/mcp
• Authorization: copy the headers.Authorization value from the Self Photos configuration JSON

Save and enable the connector.

ChatGPT

In ChatGPT desktop, open Settings → Integrations → Connect to custom MCP and enter:

• Name: selfphotos
• Type: Streamable HTTP
• URL: http://127.0.0.1:17238/mcp
• Under Headers, add Authorization and paste the headers.Authorization value from the Self Photos configuration JSON into its value field
• Bearer token environment variable: leave blank; do not enter the token here

Save and confirm the connection.

Official guide: ChatGPT MCP.

Claude Desktop

1. Open Settings → Developer → Edit Config to open claude_desktop_config.json.
2. Add the selfphotos entry to the existing JSON. If it already has an mcpServers object, merge the entry into it.
3. Quit and restart Claude Desktop.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "selfphotos": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "http://127.0.0.1:17238/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization: <copy headers.Authorization from the Self Photos configuration JSON>"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Config files:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json.

Official guide: Connect local MCP servers.

WorkBuddy

Open Expert → Skills → Connectors → Custom Connector → Add MCP and enter this configuration.

After saving, select Custom Connector again, then trust and open it:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "selfphotos": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:17238/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "<copy headers.Authorization from the Self Photos configuration JSON>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Config files:

• macOS: ~/.workbuddy-ai/mcp.json
• Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.workbuddy-ai\mcp.json.

Official guide: WorkBuddy Connector.

Cherry Studio

Open Settings → MCP → Add → Import from JSON, import this configuration, and enable the server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "selfphotos": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:17238/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "<copy headers.Authorization from the Self Photos configuration JSON>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Then open Work → Agent menu → Edit → MCP and enable the server for the Agent that should use Self Photos.

Official guide: Cherry Studio MCP.

Troubleshooting

The server does not connect

Confirm the Self Photos MCP service is running, the URL is correct, and the client is on the same computer. Remote workspaces, containers, and cloud agents usually cannot reach 127.0.0.1.

Authentication fails

Check that Authorization matches the headers.Authorization value in the Self Photos configuration JSON and that the example placeholder has been replaced. Save and reconnect.

The connection stopped working after token rotation

Copy the new headers.Authorization value from the configuration JSON, update the client, and reconnect.