Trope CUA
Background computer use for desktop agents on Windows and macOS
What is Trope CUA?
Trope CUA is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to background computer use for desktop agents on windows and macos
Background computer use for desktop agents on Windows and macOS
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Background computer use for desktop agents on Windows and ma
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx trope-cuaConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Trope CUA
Trope CUA is a background computer-use agent server for Windows and macOS that lets AI assistants control desktop applications without stealing focus or moving the hardware cursor. It exposes window enumeration, screenshot capture (pixels and accessibility trees), and input operations (click, type, key presses, scroll) through an MCP stdio interface. Every mutating action returns a JSON receipt confirming background safety so agents can verify they are not disturbing the user's active session. It works with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and any other MCP-compatible AI client.
Prerequisites
- Windows 10 version 1903+ (with .NET SDK matching global.json) OR macOS 14+ with Xcode Command Line Tools
- On macOS: Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions granted to the terminal/app running trope-cua
- An MCP-compatible AI client such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Cursor
- Node.js 18+ if using the npx launcher
Install platform dependencies
On macOS, ensure Xcode Command Line Tools are installed and that your terminal application has been granted Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions in System Settings > Privacy & Security. On Windows, install the .NET SDK version specified by the repository's global.json file.
xcode-select --installRun the installer script
Clone the repository and run the platform-specific installer. The script compiles the Swift (macOS) or .NET (Windows) binary and places it on your PATH.
# macOS
git clone https://github.com/voctory/trope-cua.git
cd trope-cua
./scripts/install-macos.sh
# Windows (PowerShell)
.\scripts\install-windows.ps1 -SelfContainedVerify installation and permissions
Confirm the binary is accessible and that all required OS permissions are in place before registering it with an MCP client.
trope-cua --help
trope-cua check_permissions
trope-cua list_windowsGenerate MCP client configuration
Use the built-in helper to emit the correct JSON configuration block for your MCP client. Pass --client cursor if you are targeting Cursor IDE.
# Default (Claude Desktop)
trope-cua mcp-config
# For Cursor
trope-cua mcp-config --client cursorAdd the server to your MCP client
Paste the generated configuration into your client's MCP settings file (claude_desktop_config.json for Claude Desktop). The server runs as an MCP stdio process.
{
"mcpServers": {
"trope-cua": {
"command": "trope-cua",
"args": ["mcp"]
}
}
}(Optional) Run as a named background daemon
For persistent background use across multiple AI sessions, start a named daemon instance. You can then call tools against it from any terminal without restarting.
trope-cua serve --instance demo
# Call tools against the running daemon
trope-cua call --instance demo list_windows '{}'
trope-cua call --instance demo click '{"pid":1234,"window_id":456789,"element_index":14}'Trope CUA Examples
Client configuration
Minimal claude_desktop_config.json entry to run Trope CUA as an MCP stdio server.
{
"mcpServers": {
"trope-cua": {
"command": "trope-cua",
"args": ["mcp"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts you can send to your AI client once Trope CUA is connected.
- "List all open windows on my desktop and tell me their titles"
- "Take a screenshot of the window belonging to process 1234 and describe what you see"
- "Click the Save button in the active application window"
- "Type 'Hello World' into the focused text field of the Notes app"
- "Scroll down three times in the browser window titled 'Documentation'"Troubleshooting Trope CUA
Actions fail with a permissions error on macOS
Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and Screen Recording, then add and enable your terminal application (Terminal, iTerm2, etc.). Restart the terminal after granting permissions.
trope-cua command not found after installation
The installer places the binary in a directory that may not be on your PATH. Run 'echo $PATH' and check whether the install directory (typically /usr/local/bin or ~/.local/bin) is included. If not, add it to your shell profile and reload with 'source ~/.zshrc'.
MCP client shows zero tools or connection failure
Run 'trope-cua check_permissions' in a terminal to confirm all OS permissions are granted. Then run 'trope-cua mcp' directly and confirm it produces JSON-RPC output before re-adding it to your client configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trope CUA
What is Trope CUA?
Trope CUA is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that background computer use for desktop agents on windows and macos It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Trope CUA?
Follow the installation instructions on the Trope CUA GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Trope CUA?
Trope CUA works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Trope CUA free to use?
Yes, Trope CUA is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
Trope CUA Alternatives — Similar Browser Automation Servers
Looking for alternatives to Trope CUA? 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 Trope CUA 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
Ready to use Trope CUA?
Browse our complete directory of 33,000+ MCP servers, read setup guides for your editor, and start building with the Model Context Protocol.