File Convert MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for converting files between various formats.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the File Convert MCP MCP server?

File Convert MCP becomes available to MCP clients through the file convert mcp mcp server. A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for converting files between various formats.

What File Convert MCP does

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for converting files between various formats.

Tools it exposes

Once connected, the assistant can call these 2 tools directly:

  • detect_file_type — Analyzes the first 200 bytes of an uploaded file and uses the Convert.Guru API to determine its type
  • convert_file — Converts a given file to a specified output format. The desired file extension should be passed as the ext_out parameter

Installing the file convert mcp mcp server

The server is distributed via npm as @smithery/cli, so most clients can run it without a manual build step. Add it to your MCP client's configuration and restart the client to pick it up — the copy-paste configs for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor are on this page.

Configuration

Before the server will start you need to supply one environment variable: CONVERT_GURU_API_KEY. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than committing them.

Where it fits

Developer-tool servers are usually the first ones people connect, because they turn "help me with this code" into an assistant that can actually read the repo and act on it. File Convert MCP sits in that group, and the shape of its toolset — detect_file_type, convert_file — tells you what it is really for. Worth comparing against the other developer tools servers in this directory before you commit to one, since several overlap in scope but differ sharply in setup cost and permissions.

Practical notes

  • This server runs locally, so it operates with whatever access your machine and its credentials already have. Scope that deliberately rather than by default.
  • It will not start until its required credentials are present, so set those before wondering why the tools never appear.
  • Maintained by convertguru, written in Python.
  • MCP clients ask for confirmation before each tool call by default. Keep that on while you learn what the file convert mcp mcp server actually does with your data.
  • Every entry in this directory is reviewed by hand before it goes live, and details are checked against the project's own documentation.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
detect_file_typeAnalyzes the first 200 bytes of an uploaded file and uses the Convert.Guru API to determine its type.
convert_fileConverts a given file to a specified output format. The desired file extension should be passed as the ext_out parameter.

How to install the File Convert MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "file-convert": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/convertguru/file-convert-mcp.git", "file-convert-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CONVERT_GURU_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
CONVERT_GURU_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use File Convert MCP to detect file type.
  • Use File Convert MCP to convert file.

Frequently asked questions

It connects File Convert MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 2 tools (detect_file_type, convert_file) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with File Convert MCP directly.