UniFi Protect MCP Server

You have access to a UniFi Protect MCP server that lets you query and manage a UniFi Protect NVR. It provides 38 tools covering cameras, smart detections, recordings, snapshots, lights, sensors, chimes, 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+)

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.

Key Capabilities

• Snapshots: protect_get_snapshot with include_image=true returns base64 JPEG inline
• RTSP streams: protect_get_camera_streams gives stream URLs for video player integration
• 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.
• Event camera names: All event responses include camera_name alongside camera_id — no need to call protect_list_cameras separately to resolve names.
• 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

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.
• 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 comprehensive 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). API key support exists but is experimental — limited to read-only operations and a subset of tools.

To configure, run /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 38 tools organized by category with descriptions, tips, and common scenarios, read references/protect-tools.md.