Messages MCP Server

Fuzzy search and browse Apple Messages/iMessage from CLI or MCP server

Local serverstdio

What is the Messages MCP server?

Most developer tooling work still happens through a UI a human drives. Messages MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. Fuzzy search and browse Apple Messages/iMessage from CLI or MCP server.

The short version

Fuzzy search and browse Apple Messages (iMessage/SMS) from the command line, as a Claude Code plugin, or as an MCP server.

  • Fuzzy search — with typo tolerance across all your messages
  • Browse recent — messages, contacts, and conversations
  • Contact resolution — - shows names instead of phone numbers
  • Context display — - see messages before/after each match
  • Filter by sender — or date range
  • Auto-indexing — - index automatically rebuilds when new messages are detected

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 1 tool. What each one is for:

  • Homebrew — The Homebrew tool exposed by this server

What it needs from you

  • macOS (reads from Apple Messages database) - Node.js 22+ - Full Disk Access permission for your terminal (to read ~/Library/Messages/chat.db)

Getting it running

@cardmagic/messages on npm is all you need. Most clients run it directly, so configuration is a few lines and a restart.

How it compares

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. Messages's toolset — Homebrew — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by cardmagic; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Things to watch

  • 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.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
HomebrewThe Homebrew tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Messages MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "messages": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@cardmagic/messages", "--mcp"]
    }
  }
}

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

Configuration

  • macOS (reads from Apple Messages database) - Node.js 22+ - Full Disk Access permission for your terminal (to read ~/Library/Messages/chat.db)

Example prompts to try

  • Use Messages to Homebrew.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Messages to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 1 tool (Homebrew) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Messages directly.