{"version":"2.1.321","anchor":"mcp-tool-delivered-pictures-note-env-gated","canonical_anchor":"mcp-tool-delivered-pictures-note-env-gated","heading":"New setting lets chosen MCP servers show pictures to you directly","tier":"use","area":"MCP","scope":"individual","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.321\/e\/mcp-tool-delivered-pictures-note-env-gated","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.321","markdown":"### New setting lets chosen MCP servers show pictures to you directly\n\nMCP servers named in `CLAUDE_CODE_TOOL_PICTURE_SERVERS` can mark pictures as shown to you, and Claude is told it need not send them\n\n**Unclear.** How server names should be separated in `CLAUDE_CODE_TOOL_PICTURE_SERVERS` is not stated.\n\n**What**\n\nAn MCP server is an add-on program that gives Claude extra tools. `CLAUDE_CODE_TOOL_PICTURE_SERVERS` is a new environment variable, a named value you set in your shell before starting Claude Code, that lists MCP servers by name.\n\nFor a server on that list, when a tool result is marked with `anthropic\/deliverImages`, Claude Code adds a note for Claude: \"The pictures in this result are shown to the user with your reply, so they need no sending.\" This applies only in the main conversation, not in helper agents, and depends on a couple of further conditions.\n\n**Why**\n\nThis gives MCP servers an opt-in way to hand pictures to you alongside Claude's reply. Claude is told not to try to pass them on itself.\n\n- Area: MCP\n- Names: `CLAUDE_CODE_TOOL_PICTURE_SERVERS`\n- Tier: Use it now\n- Useful: 5\/5\n- Signal: 3\/5\n- Scope: individual\n- Heads-up: no"}