Remote macOS Use
The only general AI agent that does NOT requires extra API key, giving you full control on your local and remote MacOs from Claude Desktop App
What is Remote macOS Use?
Remote macOS Use is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to only general ai agent that does not requires extra api key, giving you full control on your local and remote macos from claude desktop app
The only general AI agent that does NOT requires extra API key, giving you full control on your local and remote MacOs from Claude Desktop App
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- The only general AI agent that does NOT requires extra API k
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-remote-macos-useConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Remote macOS Use
The Remote macOS Use MCP server lets Claude Desktop take full control of a local or remote Mac by capturing screenshots, moving the mouse, clicking, scrolling, dragging, typing keyboard input, and launching applications — all over a lightweight Docker-based VNC bridge. Unlike cloud computer-use services, it requires no additional AI API key beyond your existing Claude subscription, making it an affordable option for automating Mac workflows from anywhere.
Prerequisites
- Docker installed and running on the machine that will run the MCP server
- A macOS machine (local or remote) accessible over the network with a known hostname/IP, username, and password
- Claude Desktop (or another MCP-capable client) installed
- Network access between the Docker host and the target Mac (VNC-compatible remote access enabled on the Mac)
Pull the pre-built Docker image
Pull the published image from Docker Hub so you do not need to build it yourself. This image bundles the Python server and all VNC/screenshot dependencies.
docker pull buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latestEnable Screen Sharing on the target Mac
On the Mac you want to control, open System Settings → General → Sharing, then enable Screen Sharing and Remote Login. Note the IP address or hostname.
Open your Claude Desktop configuration file
On macOS the file lives at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Open it in a text editor.
Add the Remote macOS Use server entry
Add the server block below, replacing the placeholder values with your real Mac credentials and hostname. The Docker container communicates with the remote Mac over VNC.
{
"mcpServers": {
"remote-macos-use": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run", "-i",
"-e", "MACOS_USERNAME=your_macos_username",
"-e", "MACOS_PASSWORD=your_macos_password",
"-e", "MACOS_HOST=your_macos_hostname_or_ip",
"--rm",
"buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest"
]
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop
Quit and relaunch Claude Desktop so it picks up the new configuration. Verify the server appears in the connected tools list.
Test the connection with a screenshot request
Ask Claude to capture a screenshot of the remote Mac desktop. If the image appears in the chat, the VNC connection is working correctly.
Remote macOS Use Examples
Client configuration
Complete claude_desktop_config.json entry for Remote macOS Use using Docker with your Mac credentials.
{
"mcpServers": {
"remote-macos-use": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run", "-i",
"-e", "MACOS_USERNAME=alice",
"-e", "MACOS_PASSWORD=s3cr3t",
"-e", "MACOS_HOST=192.168.1.42",
"--rm",
"buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest"
]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Natural language tasks you can hand off to Claude once the server is connected.
- "Take a screenshot of my Mac desktop and tell me what's open."
- "Open Safari on my Mac, navigate to github.com, and take a screenshot of the result."
- "Click on the Finder icon in the Dock on my remote Mac."
- "Type 'Hello from Claude' into the currently focused text field on my Mac."
- "Open the Terminal application and run 'df -h' to show disk usage."Troubleshooting Remote macOS Use
Docker container starts but fails to connect to the Mac
Ensure Screen Sharing is enabled in macOS System Settings and that the Docker host can reach the Mac's IP on port 5900. Temporarily disable the Mac firewall to isolate network issues.
Authentication fails with MACOS_USERNAME / MACOS_PASSWORD
Confirm you are using the macOS account's login password (not an Apple ID password) and that the username matches exactly as shown in System Settings → Users & Groups.
Screenshots appear but clicks land in the wrong position
Display scaling (Retina) can offset coordinates. The server includes automatic coordinate scaling, but if the issue persists check that the Mac's display resolution matches what the server is detecting by asking Claude to capture a fresh screenshot before each interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions about Remote macOS Use
What is Remote macOS Use?
Remote macOS Use is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that only general ai agent that does not requires extra api key, giving you full control on your local and remote macos from claude desktop app It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Remote macOS Use?
Follow the installation instructions on the Remote macOS Use GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Remote macOS Use?
Remote macOS Use works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Remote macOS Use free to use?
Yes, Remote macOS Use is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Quick Config Preview
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