MCPControl MCP Server

Windows control server for the Model Context Protocol

Local serverstdioPython

What is the MCPControl MCP server?

MCPControl MCP server exists for a simple reason — assistants are far more useful when they can act on MCPControl directly instead of describing what you should do. Windows control server for the Model Context Protocol.

What you get

Windows control server for the Model Context Protocol, providing programmatic control over system operations including mouse, keyboard, window management, and screen capture functionality.

What the assistant can call

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

  • Human — AI Collaboration**: Explore new interaction paradigms where Claude can see your screen and help with complex tasks
  • Cross — Application Integration**: Bridge applications that don't normally communicate
  • powershell — Windows PowerShell-based automation for simpler operations
  • autohotkey — AutoHotkey v2 scripting for advanced automation needs
  • node-gyp — npm install -g node-gyp
  • cmake-js — npm install -g cmake-js
  • index.ts — Main application entry point
  • Prerequisites — 1. Install Build Tools (including VC++ workload) powershell # Run as Administrator - may take a few minutes to complete winget install
  • Installation — 1. Install MCPControl Package powershell npm install -g mcp-control
  • Configuration — MCPControl works best in a virtual machine at 1280x720 resolution for optimal click accuracy

Setting it up

mcp-control on npm is all you need. Most clients run it directly, so configuration is a few lines and a restart.

Configuration and credentials

You will need 6 environment variables: AUTOMATION_PROVIDER, AUTOHOTKEY_PATH, AUTOMATION_KEYBOARD_PROVIDER, AUTOMATION_MOUSE_PROVIDER, AUTOMATION_SCREEN_PROVIDER, AUTOMATION_CLIPBOARD_PROVIDER. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

  1. Install Build Tools (including VC++ workload) 2. Install Python (if not already installed) 3. Install Node.js

Choosing this one

Plenty of developer tooling servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. MCPControl's toolset — Human, Cross, powershell and 7 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by Cheffromspace; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

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 10 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch MCPControl.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the mcpcontrol mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
HumanAI Collaboration**: Explore new interaction paradigms where Claude can see your screen and help with complex tasks
CrossApplication Integration**: Bridge applications that don't normally communicate
powershellWindows PowerShell-based automation for simpler operations
autohotkeyAutoHotkey v2 scripting for advanced automation needs
node-gypnpm install -g node-gyp
cmake-jsnpm install -g cmake-js
index.tsMain application entry point
Prerequisites1. **Install Build Tools (including VC++ workload)** powershell # Run as Administrator - may take a few minutes to complete winget install Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.BuildTools --override "--wait --passive --add Microso
Installation1. **Install MCPControl Package** powershell npm install -g mcp-control
ConfigurationMCPControl works best in a **virtual machine at 1280x720 resolution** for optimal click accuracy.

How to install the MCPControl MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcpcontrol": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-control"],
      "env": {
        "AUTOMATION_PROVIDER": "your-value",
        "AUTOHOTKEY_PATH": "your-value",
        "AUTOMATION_KEYBOARD_PROVIDER": "your-value",
        "AUTOMATION_MOUSE_PROVIDER": "your-value",
        "AUTOMATION_SCREEN_PROVIDER": "your-value",
        "AUTOMATION_CLIPBOARD_PROVIDER": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

  1. Install Build Tools (including VC++ workload) 2. Install Python (if not already installed) 3. Install Node.js
VariableDescriptionRequired
AUTOMATION_PROVIDERConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
AUTOHOTKEY_PATHCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
AUTOMATION_KEYBOARD_PROVIDERCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
AUTOMATION_MOUSE_PROVIDERConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
AUTOMATION_SCREEN_PROVIDERConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
AUTOMATION_CLIPBOARD_PROVIDERConfiguration value read at startup.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use MCPControl to Human.
  • Use MCPControl to Cross.
  • Use MCPControl to powershell.

Frequently asked questions

It connects MCPControl to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 10 tools (Human, Cross, powershell, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with MCPControl directly.