Apple Shortcuts

This MCP server lets AI assistants trigger and control Apple Shortcuts on macOS, providing a safe, structured way to list available shortcuts and run them by name with optional input. It helps you automate tasks from AI-powered workflows while keeping user control intact.

How to use

You will connect an MCP client to the Apple Shortcuts MCP Server to list available shortcuts and run them by name. Use the client to request all shortcuts, then pick one to execute and optionally pass input parameters. The server exposes a simple interface that maps AI actions to Shortcuts on your Mac, making automation straightforward and controllable.

How to install

Prerequisites to get started:

• Node.js (v18 or higher)
• macOS with Shortcuts app configured
• Claude Desktop installed

Step by step commands to set up and run the server locally:

# 1. Clone the MCP server repository
git clone git@github.com:recursechat/mcp-server-apple-shortcuts.git

# 2. Enter the project directory
cd mcp-server-apple-shortcuts

# 3. Install dependencies
npm install

# 4. Build the project
npm run build

# 5. Run the server (example using a local build index.js)
node build/index.js

Additional setup and configuration

You can configure the MCP client to connect to the Apple Shortcuts MCP Server using one of the provided options. The primary approach uses a local runtime via npx to load the server package. A separate configuration demonstrates pointing to a built local index.js for a deployed local build.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-shortcuts": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-server-apple-shortcuts"]
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-shortcuts": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-server-apple-shortcuts/build/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Available tools

list_shortcuts

Lists all available Shortcuts on the connected macOS system so you can choose which one to run.

run_shortcut

Runs a Shortcut by name with optional input parameters and returns the result to the AI client.