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For a screenshot MCP server running locally over stdio, put the server’s required variables in the MCP client’s server configuration under env. Use the exact names the server documents. In VS Code, you can also load values from an envFile or prompt for a masked secret. A hosted MCP server may use an HTTP authorization header or OAuth instead, so first identify whether your setup is local or remote.
Choose the right authentication pattern
Environment variables are for a process the MCP client launches, typically a local server using stdio. The client starts the process and supplies its environment. A hosted server runs remotely, so its credentials are configured through the client’s remote-server and authentication features instead; it may not accept local environment variables at all.
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- Local stdio: configure the server’s command and arguments, then pass its required variables in
env. - Hosted endpoint: follow that provider’s documented transport and authentication method, such as an Authorization header or browser OAuth.
Do not assume variable names or credentials are interchangeable between screenshot servers. Confirm which keys are required, whether any are optional, and whether the server reads them at startup.
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Configure a local stdio server
The configuration file and outer structure depend on the MCP client. The following is a generic VS Code-style example, not a verified configuration for any unnamed package. Replace the command, package, and variable name with the values in your server’s documentation.
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{
"servers": {
"screenshotServer": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "your-screenshot-mcp-package"],
"env": {
"SERVICE_API_KEY": "YOUR_KEY"
}
}
}
}VS Code’s reference documents command, args, env, and envFile for stdio entries. It supports workspace configuration in .vscode/mcp.json and portable configuration in .mcp.json; choose the scope appropriate to where you want the server available. See the VS Code MCP configuration reference.
Example: Screenshot Scout
Screenshot Scout’s local npm server requires SCREENSHOTSCOUT_ACCESS_KEY. It uses SCREENSHOTSCOUT_SECRET_KEY only when signed requests are enabled. Its Claude Desktop example is:
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{
"mcpServers": {
"screenshotscout": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@screenshotscout/mcp"],
"env": {
"SCREENSHOTSCOUT_ACCESS_KEY": "YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
}
}
}
}Add the secret-key variable only if your account and server configuration require signed requests. The variable names above belong to Screenshot Scout; do not copy them into another server’s configuration unless its documentation specifies them. Screenshot Scout also provides separate examples for Cursor, Claude Code, and VS Code in its MCP server guide.
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Keep secrets out of shared configuration
A literal key in a project configuration can be exposed if that file is shared or committed. Prefer the client’s secret-input or environment-file feature where available, and restrict access to any file containing credentials. Never put credentials in a URL or prompt.
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VS Code masked input
VS Code supports an inputs entry of type promptString with password set to true. The server entry can then refer to the prompted value using ${input:variable-id} under env. VS Code says the value is securely stored for later use after the first prompt. Alternatively, use envFile to load additional values. Follow the configuration reference for the exact JSON structure and supported scope.
Environment file considerations
An envFile is useful when you want values outside the main MCP configuration, but it is still a credential-bearing file: keep it private and ensure it is not inadvertently included in a shared repository. Check your client’s documentation for the accepted file format and path rules.
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Hosted screenshot MCP servers use different auth
Do not add a local env object to a remote endpoint unless the client or provider specifically documents that pattern. For example, Screenshot Scout’s hosted endpoint uses a Bearer Authorization header and says not to send the secret key to that endpoint. ScreenshotOne describes a hosted MCP server at https://mcp.screenshotone.com that connects through browser OAuth, with no local process to run or API key to paste into the client.
Use the provider’s instructions for the endpoint URL, transport, and authentication supported by your MCP client. See the relevant vendor documentation for Screenshot Scout or ScreenshotOne.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the configuration and diagnose failures
- Check the server’s credential requirements. Confirm exact variable spelling, whether each value is required, and whether it is read at startup.
- Check the client’s configuration location and schema. Workspace and user-level files differ, and a server’s example for one client may not be valid in another.
- Restart or reconnect the server. A local process may not see changed variables until it is relaunched. Screenshot Scout specifically instructs Claude Desktop users to restart after saving its local configuration.
- Inspect server state in VS Code. Run
MCP: List Serversto inspect or manage configured servers. - Keep stdio processes attached. For Docker-based stdio servers in VS Code, do not detach the container with
-d; the process must remain in the foreground to communicate over stdio.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Server reports a missing or invalid key | The variable name is misspelled, the value is not available to the process, or the wrong key was supplied. | Compare the configured name and required/optional status with the server’s own docs; confirm the client is launching the expected entry. |
| Changes to a key have no effect | The running server process has not reloaded its environment. | Restart or reconnect the MCP server in the client. |
| A local server does not connect over stdio | The process may be exiting or running detached. | Check the command and arguments, and for VS Code Docker setups keep the container in the foreground rather than using -d. |
| A hosted endpoint rejects credentials | The endpoint expects a different authentication method or credential than the local server. | Follow the provider’s hosted-endpoint instructions; do not put secrets in URLs or prompts. |
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is simply to get website screenshots, ScreenshotNeo offers a one-request screenshot API as well as an MCP server for AI agents. Its API can return a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF; the code below saves the response as WebP. See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for API and MCP setup details.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing, and the response identifies the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
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