Claude Code Brave Search brave_image_search
How to: Claude Code Brave Search brave_image_search
Add Brave Search to Claude Code
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01
Run this in your project directory.
claude mcp add brave-search -e BRAVE_API_KEY=<BRAVE_API_KEY> -- npx -y @brave/brave-search-mcp-server-
02
Restart your session so the server is picked up.
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03
Ask for something brave_image_search does. Claude Code lists the server's tools on connect and calls brave_image_search itself — you do not invoke it by name.
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04
If nothing happens, check the server is running and that Brave Search's identifier in your config matches the one above exactly.
Adds it for this project only. Append --scope user to make it available everywhere. Claude Code docs
Set these first
Brave Search will not start until these are set, so brave_image_search never becomes available.
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BRAVE_API_KEY
Same tool, other clients
Mutating and Read-only are read off each tool's name, not its schema — a hint, not a guarantee. The registry stores tool names only; connect the server for its live schemas.