Xcode MCP
XCode CLI MCP: Convenience wrapper for Xcode CLI tools & iOS Simulator. Progressive disclosure of tool responses to reduce context usage. Use --mini param for build-only with tiny context footprint.
What is Xcode MCP?
Xcode MCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to xcode cli mcp: convenience wrapper for xcode cli tools & ios simulator. progressive disclosure of tool responses to reduce context usage. use --mini param for build-only with tiny context footprint.
XCode CLI MCP: Convenience wrapper for Xcode CLI tools & iOS Simulator. Progressive disclosure of tool responses to reduce context usage. Use --mini param for build-only with tiny context footprint.
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- XCode CLI MCP: Convenience wrapper for Xcode CLI tools & iOS
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx xcConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Xcode MCP
The xc-mcp server is a convenience wrapper around Xcode CLI tools and the iOS Simulator that makes them usable by AI agents within token budget constraints. Raw xcodebuild and simctl output can exceed 50,000 tokens per call, making direct use impractical. This server applies progressive disclosure and intelligent caching to return only the relevant portion of output, and exposes 29 tools covering builds, tests, UI automation, accessibility checks, and simulator management for iOS development workflows driven by Claude or other MCP clients.
Prerequisites
- macOS with Xcode installed (Xcode 15 or later recommended)
- Node.js 18 or later (for npx)
- Optional: idb (iOS Device Bridge) installed for advanced UI automation tools
- An MCP client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- An iOS project directory to point the server at
Verify Xcode CLI tools are available
Confirm xcodebuild and simctl are accessible on your PATH before configuring the MCP server.
xcodebuild -version
xcrun simctl listInstall xc-mcp globally or use npx
Install the package globally with npm or run it on demand with npx.
npm install -g xc-mcp
# or use npx directly in your MCP config (no prior install needed)Add the server to your MCP client configuration
Register xc-mcp in Claude Desktop's config. Set cwd to your iOS project directory so the tools operate on the correct project.
{
"mcpServers": {
"xc-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "xc-mcp"],
"cwd": "/path/to/your/ios/project",
"env": {
"XCODE_CLI_MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "info"
}
}
}
}Configure optional environment variables
Tune the server's behavior with optional environment variables for timeout, logging, and caching.
# Operation timeout in seconds (default: 300)
XCODE_CLI_MCP_TIMEOUT=600
# Logging level: debug | info | warn | error
XCODE_CLI_MCP_LOG_LEVEL=info
# Custom cache directory
XCODE_CLI_MCP_CACHE_DIR=/tmp/xc-mcp-cacheRestart Claude Desktop and verify the tools are available
After restarting, ask Claude to list available simulators or run a build to confirm all 29 tools are loaded.
Xcode MCP Examples
Client configuration
Full Claude Desktop JSON config for xc-mcp pointing at an iOS project directory.
{
"mcpServers": {
"xc-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "xc-mcp"],
"cwd": "/Users/me/Projects/MyiOSApp",
"env": {
"XCODE_CLI_MCP_TIMEOUT": "300",
"XCODE_CLI_MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "info"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts for iOS development and simulator control.
- "Build my iOS app for the iPhone 15 Pro simulator and show any errors."
- "List all available iOS simulators and their status."
- "Run the unit tests for the AuthModule target and summarize failures."
- "Take a screenshot of the current simulator screen."
- "Check the accessibility quality of the LoginScreen and report any issues."
- "Tap the Sign In button on the simulator."Troubleshooting Xcode MCP
xcodebuild-build returns a timeout error
Increase the timeout by setting XCODE_CLI_MCP_TIMEOUT to a higher value (in seconds) in the MCP server env config. Large projects may need 600 seconds or more for a clean build.
idb tools (idb-ui-tap, idb-app, etc.) fail with command not found
The idb tools require the Facebook idb (iOS Device Bridge) tool to be installed separately. Install it with 'brew install idb-companion' and the idb Python client with 'pip install fb-idb'.
simctl-list returns an empty device list
Ensure Xcode is installed and at least one simulator runtime is available. Open Xcode → Preferences → Platforms and download an iOS simulator runtime. Then run 'xcrun simctl list' in a terminal to verify devices appear.
Frequently Asked Questions about Xcode MCP
What is Xcode MCP?
Xcode MCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that xcode cli mcp: convenience wrapper for xcode cli tools & ios simulator. progressive disclosure of tool responses to reduce context usage. use --mini param for build-only with tiny context footprint. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Xcode MCP?
Follow the installation instructions on the Xcode MCP GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Xcode MCP?
Xcode MCP works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Xcode MCP free to use?
Yes, Xcode MCP is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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