UniFi Protect MCP Server

Dependencies

Requires: protect Optional: network

Verify required tools through MCP discovery before collecting data; discovery alone does not prove controller connectivity or authorization. If a required server/tool is missing or a required read fails, stop and report it unavailable. Optional sources may be skipped only when the report visibly names the missing source and resulting coverage limits. Use the product setup skill for connection help; never request secrets.

Coverage and Limitations

Every report must include a Coverage and Limitations section: name each requested source and its status (available, unavailable, partial, or capped), requested time window/timezone or current-state collection time, actual filters, returned counts, limits, pagination, and any failed calls or unknown fields. Counts describe retrieved records, not totals unless completeness is established. A successful empty query is an observation; a failed or missing source is unavailable, never an empty result. If a limit is reached, label the source capped unless further bounded reads establish coverage. If completeness cannot be established, label it partial. Do not claim complete coverage, all-clear, or overall health from unavailable, partial, or capped data; say “No concerning activity found in the retrieved records” when appropriate.

Separate Observations (cite source/tool, record ID and timestamp when available), Hypotheses (correlations and alternative explanations), and Identity (only explicit source-backed credential/account attribution, with its limits). Timing, similar names, proximity, or absence of a matching event alone proves neither identity nor cause. A credential event identifies the recorded account, not who physically used it. Missing mappings or clock uncertainty limit correlations.

You have access to a UniFi Protect MCP server that lets you query and manage a UniFi Protect NVR. It provides 63 tools covering cameras, smart detections, Find Anything detection search, recordings, snapshots, lights, sensors, chimes, Known Faces, license plates, and the Alarm Manager (arm/disarm).

Tool Discovery

The server uses lazy loading by default — only meta-tools are registered initially:

Workflow: Call protect_tool_index to find the right tool, then protect_execute to call it. Use protect_batch for multiple independent queries.

Safety Model

All mutations are disabled by default because Protect controls physical security hardware.

Read operations — always available. Listing cameras, events, snapshots, sensor readings — all work without permissions.

Mutations require explicit opt-in via env vars:

• UNIFI_POLICY_PROTECT_CAMERAS_UPDATE=true — camera settings, recording toggle, PTZ, reboot
• UNIFI_POLICY_PROTECT_LIGHTS_UPDATE=true — light brightness, PIR sensitivity
• UNIFI_POLICY_PROTECT_CHIMES_UPDATE=true — chime volume, trigger
• UNIFI_POLICY_PROTECT_ALARM_UPDATE=true — arm/disarm the Alarm Manager (Protect 6.1+)
• UNIFI_POLICY_PROTECT_RECOGNITION_UPDATE=true — Known Face rename/merge
• UNIFI_POLICY_PROTECT_RECOGNITION_DELETE=true — Known Face deletion

The category segment is the server's config key (CAMERAS, LIGHTS, CHIMES, SENSORS), not the singular permission_category shorthand in tools_manifest.json (camera, light, chime). UNIFI_POLICY_PROTECT_CAMERA_UPDATE is never read. A denied tool's error names the exact variable to set.

Confirmation flow — every mutation uses preview-then-confirm:

1. Default call → returns preview of what would change
2. Call with confirm=true → executes the mutation

Always preview first and show the user before confirming.

Response Format

All tools return: {"success": true, "data": ...}, {"success": false, "error": "..."}, or {"success": true, "requires_confirmation": true, "preview": ...}. Always check success first.

Redacted secrets: RTSP/RTSPS stream aliases and URLs come back as ***REDACTED*** by default from protect_get_camera_streams. Raw values are controlled by process policy (UNIFI_PROTECT_REDACT_SENSITIVE_FIELDS=false or global UNIFI_REDACT_SENSITIVE_FIELDS=false), not by tool arguments.

Key Capabilities

• Snapshots: protect_get_snapshot with include_image=true returns base64 JPEG inline
• RTSP streams: protect_get_camera_streams gives stream URL metadata for video player integration; raw URLs require redaction policy to be disabled for a trusted local process
• Smart detections: protect_list_smart_detections filters by type (person, vehicle, animal, package, face, licensePlate). These are the highest-signal events — prioritize over raw motion.
• Find Anything search: use protect_detection_search_labels to discover controller-supported label values, then pass those values to protect_search_detections for richer searches by vehicle type, color, device, or other Protect labels.
• Event camera identity: Canonical historical event rows use camera; use protect_list_cameras to resolve missing names rather than assuming every event contains camera_name.
• Real-time events: protect_recent_events reads from websocket buffer instantly (no API call). Buffer holds ~100 events with 5-minute TTL. Use protect_list_events for historical queries.
• Video export: protect_export_clip returns metadata (not video data — too large for MCP). Max 2 hours, supports timelapse (fps: 4=60x, 8=120x, 20=300x)
• PTZ: Only zoom works via API. For pan/tilt, use protect_ptz_preset with saved positions
• Known Faces: Use protect_list_known_faces to inspect face groups before rename, merge, or delete mutations

Efficiency Tips

• Use `protect_batch` for parallel queries — biggest performance win. Batch smart detections + events in one call.
• Prefer `protect_list_smart_detections` over `protect_list_events` for security analysis — smart detections are pre-classified (person, vehicle, etc.) and higher signal than raw motion.
• Use `protect_search_detections` for Find Anything questions — if the user asks for "white vans", "animals in the driveway", or other attribute searches, discover labels first and reuse the returned value strings.
• `protect_recent_events` is fast but small — only a few minutes of buffered data. For anything beyond real-time monitoring, use protect_list_events with time range filters.
• Limit results — event queries default to 30 but can return large payloads. Use limit parameter to keep responses focused.
• Security digest — for coverage-aware event summaries, use the security-digest skill which handles batch calls, severity classification, and cross-product correlation.

Authentication

Username and password are required (local admin credentials, not Ubiquiti SSO). A UniFi Protect API key is optional and enables selected capabilities implemented through the Protect Integration API, including sensor settings, per-camera chime ring settings, and viewer liveview assignment.

To configure, run /unifi-protect:unifi-protect-setup or set env vars manually:

UNIFI_PROTECT_HOST=192.168.1.1
UNIFI_PROTECT_USERNAME=admin
UNIFI_PROTECT_PASSWORD=your-password

Other UniFi Servers

If the user also has networking or door access control, other UniFi MCP plugins are available:

• unifi-network — network devices, clients, firewall, VPN, routing
• unifi-access — door locks, credentials, visitors, access policies

Cameras are network clients — if a camera appears offline, the Network server can help check connectivity via unifi_lookup_by_ip.

Tool Reference

For the complete list of all 63 tools organized by category with descriptions, tips, and common scenarios, read references/protect-tools.md.