Mac Messages MCP

What is Mac Messages MCP about?

Mac Messages MCP enables large language models and other tools to read from and write to the native macOS Messages database. It abstracts the underlying AppleScript and database access behind the Model Context Protocol, allowing developers to query recent chats, filter by contacts, and send messages programmatically.

How to use Mac Messages MCP?

1. Install the package (recommended via uv):

   uv pip install mac-messages-mcp
   

2. Grant Full Disk Access to the terminal or IDE you will run the server from.
3. Run the MCP server:

   mac-messages-mcp   # or `uvx mac-messages-mcp`
   

4. Integrate with Claude Desktop or Cursor by adding the command uvx mac-messages-mcp to the MCP configuration as shown in the README.
5. Use the Python API:

   from mac_messages_mcp import get_recent_messages, send_message, check_imessage_availability
   
   recent = get_recent_messages(hours=24)
   send_message("+1234567890", "Hello via Mac Messages MCP!")
   

Key Features of Mac Messages MCP

• Automatic selection between iMessage and SMS/RCS based on recipient availability.
• Smart fallback to SMS for Android contacts.
• Retrieval of recent messages with time‑based filtering.
• Fuzzy search across message content.
• Contact and group‑chat filtering.
• Attachment processing support.
• Full‑disk‑access‑aware security handling.
• Simple CLI (mac-messages-mcp) and Python module usage.

Use Cases of Mac Messages MCP

• LLM‑driven assistants that need to read conversation history to provide context‑aware replies.
• Automation scripts that send notifications or reminders via iMessage/SMS.
• Customer support tools that log and retrieve chat transcripts directly from a Mac.
• Personal productivity bots that schedule messages, summarize chats, or archive conversations.

FAQ from the Mac Messages MCP

Q: Do I need a Mac to run this server? A: Yes, it relies on macOS‑specific APIs and the Messages database.

Q: Which Python version is required? A: Python 3.10 or newer.

Q: How do I grant the necessary permissions? A: Add your terminal or IDE to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access and restart the app.

Q: Can I run the server on multiple machines simultaneously? A: Only one instance should run per Mac to avoid database contention.

Q: Is the package available on PyPI? A: Yes, install with uv pip install mac-messages-mcp or pip install mac-messages-mcp.

Q: How do I check if a number supports iMessage before sending? A: Use check_imessage_availability(phone_number) which returns the delivery method.

Mac Messages MCP

A Python bridge for interacting with the macOS Messages app using MCP (Multiple Context Protocol).

Quick Install

For Cursor Users

Click the button above to automatically add Mac Messages MCP to Cursor

For Claude Desktop Users

See the Integration section below for setup instructions.

Features

• Universal Message Sending: Automatically sends via iMessage or SMS/RCS based on recipient availability
• Smart Fallback: Seamless fallback to SMS when iMessage is unavailable (perfect for Android users)
• Message Reading: Read recent messages from the macOS Messages app
• Contact Filtering: Filter messages by specific contacts or phone numbers
• Fuzzy Search: Search through message content with intelligent matching
• iMessage Detection: Check if recipients have iMessage before sending
• Cross-Platform: Works with both iPhone/Mac users (iMessage) and Android users (SMS/RCS)

Prerequisites

• macOS (tested on macOS 11+)
• Python 3.10+
• uv package manager

Installing uv

If you're on Mac, install uv using Homebrew:

brew install uv

Otherwise, follow the installation instructions on the uv website.

⚠️ Do not proceed before installing uv

Installation

Full Disk Access Permission

⚠️ This application requires Full Disk Access permission for your terminal or application to access the Messages database.

To grant Full Disk Access:

1. Open System Preferences/Settings > Security & Privacy/Privacy > Full Disk Access
2. Click the lock icon to make changes
3. Add your terminal app (Terminal, iTerm2, etc.) or Claude Desktop/Cursor to the list
4. Restart your terminal or application after granting permission

Integration

Claude Desktop Integration

1. Go to Claude > Settings > Developer > Edit Config > claude_desktop_config.json
2. Add the following configuration:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "messages": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "mac-messages-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Cursor Integration

Option 1: One-Click Install (Recommended)

Option 2: Manual Setup

Go to Cursor Settings > MCP and paste this as a command:

uvx mac-messages-mcp

⚠️ Only run one instance of the MCP server (either on Cursor or Claude Desktop), not both

Option 1: Install from PyPI

uv pip install mac-messages-mcp

Option 2: Install from source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/carterlasalle/mac_messages_mcp.git
cd mac_messages_mcp

# Install dependencies
uv install -e .

Usage

Smart Message Delivery

Mac Messages MCP automatically handles message delivery across different platforms:

• iMessage Users (iPhone, iPad, Mac): Messages sent via iMessage
• Android Users: Messages automatically fall back to SMS/RCS
• Mixed Groups: Optimal delivery method chosen per recipient

# Send to iPhone user - uses iMessage
send_message("+1234567890", "Hey! This goes via iMessage")

# Send to Android user - automatically uses SMS
send_message("+1987654321", "Hey! This goes via SMS") 

# Check delivery method before sending
check_imessage_availability("+1234567890")  # Returns availability status

As a Module

from mac_messages_mcp import get_recent_messages, send_message

# Get recent messages
messages = get_recent_messages(hours=48)
print(messages)

# Send a message (automatically chooses iMessage or SMS)
result = send_message(recipient="+1234567890", message="Hello from Mac Messages MCP!")
print(result)  # Shows whether sent via iMessage or SMS

As a Command-Line Tool

# Run the MCP server directly
mac-messages-mcp

Development

Versioning

This project uses semantic versioning. See VERSIONING.md for details on how the versioning system works and how to release new versions.

To bump the version:

python scripts/bump_version.py [patch|minor|major]

Security Notes

This application accesses the Messages database directly, which contains personal communications. Please use it responsibly and ensure you have appropriate permissions.

License

MIT

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

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