Apple Shortcuts MCP

MCP server for Apple Shortcuts on macOS.

Provides access to shortcuts for discovery, inspection, and execution. Run shortcuts with structured input and output handling.

When to use

• Triggering existing Apple Shortcuts from agents
• Local automation without shell orchestration
• Smaller scope than the all-in-one server

What It Does

• List shortcuts and folders
• Inspect shortcut details
• Run shortcuts with input/output handling
• Tool discovery helpers search_tools and get_tool_info for context-constrained clients
• Shortcut resources and execution prompts
• Health and state checks: shortcuts_health, shortcuts_permission_guide, shortcuts_refresh_state

Install On This Mac

uvx apple-shortcuts-mcp

git clone https://github.com/JonathanRReed/Apple-MCPs.git
cd Apple-MCPs
uv sync --all-packages

Install In AI Agents

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-shortcuts": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["apple-shortcuts-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "APPLE_SHORTCUTS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE": "full_access"
      }
    }
  }
}

claude mcp add --transport stdio --scope project apple-shortcuts -- uvx apple-shortcuts-mcp

Transport

stdio is the default and recommended transport. Set APPLE_SHORTCUTS_MCP_TRANSPORT=streamable-http (with optional APPLE_SHORTCUTS_MCP_HOST and APPLE_SHORTCUTS_MCP_PORT) to serve Streamable HTTP instead.

macOS Requirements

• the built-in shortcuts CLI must be available

Launch Checklist

• Add uvx apple-shortcuts-mcp (or a clone's AppleShortcuts-MCP/start.sh) to your MCP client
• Reload or reconnect the client so the Shortcuts tool surface is loaded into context
• Call shortcuts_health first
• If the CLI is unavailable, call shortcuts_permission_guide
• After changing the Shortcuts catalog, call shortcuts_refresh_state

Prompting Notes

• tools/list returns the full Shortcuts tool surface. Context-constrained clients can use search_tools first, then get_tool_info for the Shortcuts tool they need.
• If the user asks for a shortcut vaguely, list available shortcuts first.
• Run a shortcut only after confirming which shortcut to run.

Related

• Apple-Tools-MCP