Apple Shortcuts
๐ ๐ ๐ - An MCP Server Integration with Apple Shortcuts
What is Apple Shortcuts?
Apple Shortcuts is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to ๐ ๐ ๐ - an mcp server integration with apple shortcuts
๐ ๐ ๐ - An MCP Server Integration with Apple Shortcuts
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- ๐ ๐ ๐ - An MCP Server Integration with Apple Shortcuts
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx apple-shortcuts-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Apple Shortcuts
The Apple Shortcuts MCP Server integrates macOS and iOS Shortcuts with any MCP-compatible AI assistant, allowing Claude and other clients to list available shortcuts on the system, run them by name, and pass optional input parameters โ all through natural language. This means you can ask Claude to 'play a song', 'get the word of the day', or trigger any custom automation you have built in the Shortcuts app, turning AI conversations into a control layer for macOS home automation, productivity scripts, and device integrations. It is particularly valuable for users who have invested heavily in Shortcuts workflows and want to invoke them hands-free through an AI interface.
Prerequisites
- macOS with the Shortcuts app installed and at least one shortcut configured
- Node.js v18 or higher
- Claude Desktop or another MCP-compatible client
- npm for installing dependencies (if building from source)
Add the server to Claude Desktop using npx
The easiest way is to reference the npm package directly in your MCP client configuration. No manual clone or build is needed.
{
"mcpServers": {
"apple-shortcuts": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-server-apple-shortcuts"]
}
}
}Alternative: clone and build locally
For development or customisation, clone the repository, install dependencies, and build the TypeScript source into the build directory.
git clone https://github.com/recursechat/mcp-server-apple-shortcuts.git
cd mcp-server-apple-shortcuts
npm install
npm run buildConfigure Claude Desktop to use the local build
If you built from source, point the MCP client config at the compiled index.js file using its absolute path.
{
"mcpServers": {
"apple-shortcuts": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/mcp-server-apple-shortcuts/build/index.js"]
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop
Quit and reopen Claude Desktop. The apple-shortcuts server should appear in the MCP panel. The server exposes two tools: list_shortcuts (no parameters) and run_shortcut (name and optional input).
Test by listing your shortcuts
Ask Claude to list your shortcuts to verify the Shortcuts app integration is working. This calls the list_shortcuts tool and returns the names of all shortcuts available on the system.
Apple Shortcuts Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration using npx to run the Apple Shortcuts MCP server without a local install.
{
"mcpServers": {
"apple-shortcuts": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-server-apple-shortcuts"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts that use the list_shortcuts and run_shortcut tools.
- "List all my available Apple Shortcuts."
- "Run my 'Morning Briefing' shortcut."
- "Get the word of the day using my Shortcuts."
- "Play a random song using my Apple Shortcuts music automation."
- "Run my 'Send Daily Summary' shortcut with today's date as input."Troubleshooting Apple Shortcuts
run_shortcut returns 'Shortcut not found'
Use list_shortcuts first to get the exact name of the shortcut. Names are case-sensitive and must match exactly as they appear in the Shortcuts app. Shortcuts inside folders may need to be referenced by their bare name.
The Shortcuts app asks for permission dialogs that block execution
Run the shortcut manually once through the Shortcuts app to grant any required permissions (location, contacts, calendar, etc.) before invoking it via the MCP server. Shortcuts requiring user interaction may not run headlessly.
Server fails to start with 'npx: command not found'
Ensure Node.js v18+ is installed. Install it from https://nodejs.org or via Homebrew: brew install node. After installation, npx will be available automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions about Apple Shortcuts
What is Apple Shortcuts?
Apple Shortcuts is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that ๐ ๐ ๐ - an mcp server integration with apple shortcuts It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Apple Shortcuts?
Follow the installation instructions on the Apple Shortcuts GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Apple Shortcuts?
Apple Shortcuts works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Apple Shortcuts free to use?
Yes, Apple Shortcuts is open source and available under the Apache 2.0 license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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