Mac MCP Server

Native Swift macOS automation MCP — 63 tools: AX, browser, capture, OCR, Spotlight, windows.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Mac MCP server?

Mac MCP server is a locally run integration for AI assistants that speak the Model Context Protocol. Native Swift macOS automation MCP — 63 tools: AX, browser, capture, OCR, Spotlight, windows.

What you get

Native Swift MCP server for full macOS automation. 63 tools in one signed .app bundle — no Python, no Node runtime, no Electron.

What the assistant can call

Once Mac is connected, these are the calls the assistant has available:

  • Cross — origin iframes** block browser_eval_js — same-origin policy, not a limitation of the tool. Use AX coords or synthetic CGEvents for content inside
  • First — run TCC prompts are unavoidable.** macOS requires the user to grant Screen Recording, Accessibility and Apple Events the first time. The
  • Category — Tools
  • Permissions — permissions_status, request_permissions
  • Accessibility — find_element(s), query_elements, list_elements, get_ui_tree, get_element_attributes, set_element_attribute, read_value, perform_element_action
  • Windows — list_windows, focus_window, move_window, resize_window, set_window_state, wait_for_window, move_window_to_display
  • Input — click, mouse_event, drag_and_drop, scroll, type_text, press_key, press_key_sequence, key_down, key_up, convert_coordinates
  • Menus — click_menu_path, list_menu_paths, list_menu_titles
  • Browser — browser_list_tabs, browser_get_active_tab, browser_navigate, browser_new_tab, browser_close_tab, browser_eval_js
  • Screen — capture_screen, capture_window, capture_display, ocr_screen
  • Clipboard — clipboard_read, clipboard_write, clipboard_clear
  • Spotlight — spotlight_search, spotlight_open_result

Setting it up

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

Choosing this one

This sits in the browser automation group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. Mac's toolset — Cross, First, Category and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by AdelElo13; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Mac's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Before you rely on it

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Mac.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the mac mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
Crossorigin iframes** block browser_eval_js — same-origin policy, not a limitation of the tool. Use AX coords or synthetic CGEvents for content inside embedded iframes from other origins.
Firstrun TCC prompts are unavoidable.** macOS requires the user to grant Screen Recording, Accessibility and Apple Events the first time. The usage-description strings in Info.plist make the consent dialogs show up with a cle
CategoryTools
Permissionspermissions_status, request_permissions
Accessibilityfind_element(s), query_elements, list_elements, get_ui_tree, get_element_attributes, set_element_attribute, read_value, perform_element_action, wait_for_element, scroll_to_element
Windowslist_windows, focus_window, move_window, resize_window, set_window_state, wait_for_window, move_window_to_display
Inputclick, mouse_event, drag_and_drop, scroll, type_text, press_key, press_key_sequence, key_down, key_up, convert_coordinates
Menusclick_menu_path, list_menu_paths, list_menu_titles
Browserbrowser_list_tabs, browser_get_active_tab, browser_navigate, browser_new_tab, browser_close_tab, browser_eval_js
Screencapture_screen, capture_window, capture_display, ocr_screen
Clipboardclipboard_read, clipboard_write, clipboard_clear
Spotlightspotlight_search, spotlight_open_result
Systemset_volume, set_dark_mode, list_displays
ScopeState

How to install the Mac MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mac-control-mcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "/Users/you/Applications/MacControlMCP.app/Contents/MacOS/MacControlMCP"
    }
  }
}

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

Example prompts to try

  • Use Mac to Cross.
  • Use Mac to First.
  • Use Mac to Category.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Mac to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (Cross, First, Category, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Mac directly.