Inchat Image Viewer MCP

🚀 InChat Image Viewer MCP

InChat Image Viewer MCP enables AI to view images via plain file paths, streamlining the interaction with AI in platforms like GitHub Copilot Chat and Claude Desktop.

🚀 Quick Start

1. Install (Optional)

npm install -g inchat-image-viewer-mcp
# or use npx (no install needed)

2. Add to Your AI Tool

VS Code Copilot Chat – mcp.json:

{
  "servers": {
    "image-viewer": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["inchat-image-viewer-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop – Config file (%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "image-viewer": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["inchat-image-viewer-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

3. Restart

Reload VS Code or restart Claude Desktop to load the MCP server.

✨ Features

• 📸 Path-to-image: Type the path, AI sees the image
• 🖼️ Multi-format: PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP, WebP
• ⚡ Zero-config: npx inchat-image-viewer-mcp just works
• 🔌 Works with: VS Code Copilot Chat, Claude Desktop

💻 Usage Examples

Basic Usage

#image-viewer What's in C:\Users\me\screenshot.png?

#image-viewer Compare before.jpg and after.jpg in the results folder

#image-viewer Debug this error screenshot: D:\projects\test-failures\2026-01-20.png

The AI automatically uses the view_image tool—no manual attachment needed.

📚 Documentation

The Problem

GitHub Copilot Chat can't see images from file paths—only drag-and-drop works, breaking your workflow.

The Solution

Give AI the file path in plain text, and it sees the image instantly using this MCP.

Why This Exists

What DOESN'T Work in VS Code Copilot Chat

❌ Plain file paths → AI can't see them

Show me C:\screenshots\bug.png

Result: AI sees text, not the image

❌ #file: references → Unreliable for images

#file:screenshot.png

Result: Empty <attachments> - AI sees nothing

✅ Drag-and-drop → Works, but manual and disruptive Result: AI sees image as base64 attachment, but you have to manually drag every single image

What This MCP Solves

✅ Plain file paths with MCP → AI sees images instantly

#image-viewer Show me C:\screenshots\bug.png

Result: AI calls view_image tool and displays the image inline—no manual steps

How It Works: Before vs After

WITHOUT InChat Image Viewer MCP

You: "Analyze C:\test-results\failure-screenshot.png"

AI receives:

<attachments></attachments>  <!-- Empty! -->

Just sees the text path—no image data.

What you have to do: Stop, drag the file into chat, drop it, then ask again.

WITH InChat Image Viewer MCP

You: "#image-viewer Analyze C:\test-results\failure-screenshot.png"

AI receives:

{
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "text",
      "text": "Image: failure-screenshot.png (124,433 bytes)"
    },
    {
      "type": "image",
      "data": "iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAB4AAAAQ4CAIAAABnsVYU...",
      "mimeType": "image/png"
    }
  ]
}

AI sees the full image inline automatically.

What you do: Nothing extra—just type naturally with #image-viewer.

📦 Supported Formats

PNG · JPEG · GIF · BMP · WebP

📄 License

MIT

Made with 🤖 by Ibrahim Oguntola