Native DevTools
MCP server for computer use & browser automation - screenshot, OCR, click, type, find_text, Chrome/Electron CDP, template matching. macOS, Windows & Android. Works with Claude, Cursor, and any MCP client.
What is Native DevTools?
Native DevTools is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to mcp server for computer use & browser automation - screenshot, ocr, click, type, find_text, chrome/electron cdp, template matching. macos, windows & android. works with claude, cursor, and any mcp cli...
MCP server for computer use & browser automation - screenshot, OCR, click, type, find_text, Chrome/Electron CDP, template matching. macOS, Windows & Android. Works with Claude, Cursor, and any MCP client.
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- MCP server for computer use & browser automation - screensho
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y native-devtools-mcpManual Installation
npx -y native-devtools-mcpConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Native DevTools
Native DevTools MCP gives AI agents direct control over native desktop applications, Chrome and Electron browsers, and Android devices — all from a single local server. It supports screenshots with built-in OCR, accessibility-tree (AX) element dispatch on macOS, Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) automation, ADB-based Android control, and template matching for custom UI controls. Developers and power users reach for it when they need cross-platform computer-use automation that goes beyond browser-only tools like Playwright, covering macOS, Windows, and Android in one session without sending data off-device.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later installed (for npx-based launch)
- macOS, Windows, or Android device — Linux is not currently supported
- macOS only: Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions granted to your terminal or MCP client
- Android only: ADB installed and USB debugging enabled on the target device
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Cursor
Install via npx (no global install required)
The server is distributed as an npm package. The quickest way to start is with npx, which downloads and runs the server without a permanent installation.
npx -y native-devtools-mcpRun the setup wizard
The built-in setup wizard checks required OS permissions, detects installed MCP clients (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor), and offers to write the correct JSON configuration automatically.
npx native-devtools-mcp setupGrant macOS permissions
On macOS, open System Settings > Privacy & Security and enable both Accessibility and Screen Recording for your terminal app or MCP client. Without these, clicks silently fail and screenshots return a black image.
Configure your MCP client manually (if needed)
If the setup wizard does not detect your client, add the server block below to your client's config file. For Claude Desktop on macOS the config lives at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.
{
"mcpServers": {
"native-devtools": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "native-devtools-mcp"]
}
}
}Restart your MCP client
After writing the configuration, fully quit and reopen your MCP client so it picks up the new server entry.
(Optional) Allow all tool calls without per-call prompts in Claude Code
To avoid approving every screenshot or click during an automated session, add a wildcard permission to your project settings.
{
"permissions": {
"allow": ["mcp__native-devtools__*"]
}
}Native DevTools Examples
Client configuration
Minimal JSON block to add native-devtools to any MCP client that supports the stdio transport.
{
"mcpServers": {
"native-devtools": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "native-devtools-mcp"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts that exercise the key capabilities of the server.
- "Take a screenshot of the entire screen and describe what you see"
- "Find the text 'Submit' on screen and click it"
- "Open the Finder window and list the files shown"
- "Connect to Chrome on port 9222 and get the current page title"
- "Take an AX snapshot of the frontmost macOS app and list all buttons"
- "Take a screenshot of my Android device and tap the Settings icon"Troubleshooting Native DevTools
Screenshots return a black rectangle on macOS
Screen Recording permission has not been granted. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and enable it for your terminal or MCP client, then restart the client.
Clicks do nothing or fail silently on macOS
Accessibility permission is missing. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility, add your terminal or MCP client, and try again.
Android ADB commands fail with 'no device found'
Ensure adb is installed and the device is connected with USB debugging enabled. Run 'adb devices' to confirm the device appears before invoking the server.
Frequently Asked Questions about Native DevTools
What is Native DevTools?
Native DevTools is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that mcp server for computer use & browser automation - screenshot, ocr, click, type, find_text, chrome/electron cdp, template matching. macos, windows & android. works with claude, cursor, and any mcp client. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Native DevTools?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y native-devtools-mcp. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with Native DevTools?
Native DevTools works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Native DevTools free to use?
Yes, Native DevTools is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
Native DevTools Alternatives — Similar Browser Automation Servers
Looking for alternatives to Native DevTools? Here are other popular browser automation servers you can use with Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Chrome DevTools MCP
★ 40.6kAI-powered Chrome automation server with natural language element detection. Control Chrome browser through MCP protocol for testing, debugging, and performance analysis. Features 91% accuracy in element location, works with free AI models, and suppo
UI TARS Desktop
★ 34.9k📇 🏠 - Browser automation capabilities using Puppeteer, both support local and remote browser connection.
Playwright
★ 32.8kA production-ready browser automation server that enables AI assistants to interact with web pages using tools for navigation, element interaction, and data extraction. It features a built-in Inspector UI and robust crash recovery for reliable automa
Page Agent
★ 18.0kJavaScript in-page GUI agent. Control web interfaces with natural language.
Chrome
★ 11.7kAn extension-based MCP server that enables AI assistants to control your browser, leveraging existing sessions and login states for automation and content analysis. It provides over 20 tools for semantic tab search, interactive element manipulation,
LAMDA
★ 7.8kThe most powerful Android RPA agent framework, next generation mobile automation.
Browse More Browser Automation MCP Servers
Explore all browser automation servers available in the MCPgee directory. Each server includes setup guides for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Set Up Native DevTools in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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