How do I install the apple books mcp server?

Use a recorded configuration for your client, replace example credential values and paths, and verify the documented runtime. Restart or reconnect the client, then inspect the available tools.

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Apple Books MCP Server

Off by default. Enable by adding `--enable-writes` to the server args:

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Apple Books MCP Server?

Off by default. Enable by adding --enable-writes to the server args:

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

Tool	What it does
list_all_collections	List all collections
get_collection_books	Get all books in a collection
describe_collection	Get details of a collection
search_collections_by_title	Search for collections by title
create_collection	Create a new collection
rename_collection	Rename a user-created collection
delete_collection	Delete a user-created collection (books untouched)
add_book_to_collection	Add a book to a collection (idempotent)
remove_book_from_collection	Remove a book from a collection (idempotent)
list_all_books	List all books
search_books	Find books whose title or author contains the query, ignoring case, accents and quote/dash style
search_books_by_title	Search for books by title (same matching, titles only)
describe_book	Get details of a particular book (metadata, progress, annotation count, description), whether its text is readable (see below) and an "Open in Books" link
list_annotations	Annotations for a book in reading order (id + text + chapter per row, with your notes)
get_books_by_genre	Get books by genre (substring match)
get_books_in_progress	Get books currently being read
get_finished_books	Get books that have been finished
get_unstarted_books	Get books not yet started
get_recently_read_books	Get the most recently read books
list_all_annotations	Browse every annotation grouped by book, newest first, with your notes
recent_annotations	Get most recent annotations (flat, with date + book per row)
describe_annotation	Get full details of a single annotation, with the book's "Open in Books" link
get_annotation_context	Text window around a highlight (the paragraph it's in), with the highlight marked «...»
get_highlights_by_color	Highlights of a particular color, grouped by book
search_notes	Search user notes (shows highlight + note inline)
search_annotations	Search across highlights + notes + surrounding text (shows notes inline)
get_annotations_by_date_range	Annotations within a date range, inclusive of the before day, local time (flat, with date + book per row)
get_library_stats	Get library summary with reading stats
list_book_chapters	Table of contents for a book (chapter titles, order, nesting)
get_chapter_content	Plain-text content of a chapter, with optional offset + max_chars slicing. chapter_id="current" (the default) reads the chapter you're on in Apple Books
get_current_reading_position	The chapter the user last left off reading (via Apple Books' auto-bookmark CFI), with an "Open in Books" link

How to install the Apple Books MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-books-mcp": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-v",
        "/Users/YOU/Library/Containers/com.apple.iBooksX/Data/Documents:/root/Library/Containers/com.apple.iBooksX/Data/Documents:ro",
        "ghcr.io/vgnshiyer/apple-books-mcp:latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

From the project documentation. Replace placeholders and example paths before connecting.

Example prompts to try

“Use Apple Books MCP to Collections.”
“Use Apple Books MCP to Books.”
“Use Apple Books MCP to Annotations.”

Frequently asked questions

Off by default. Enable by adding `--enable-writes` to the server args: Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.