Mcp Remote Macos Use
by
Enables AI agents to fully control remote macOS machines via screen sharing, using a lightweight Docker‑based MCP server that requires no additional API keys or software installation on the target Mac.
Mcp Remote Macos Use Overview
What is Mcp Remote Macos Use about?
Mcp Remote Macos Use provides an open‑source MCP server that lets autonomous AI agents interact with a remote macOS desktop. By leveraging the built‑in macOS Screen Sharing (VNC) and optional WebRTC via LiveKit, the server captures screen images, sends keyboard/mouse events, and launches applications without any extra client‑side agents.
How to use Mcp Remote Macos Use?
- Enable Screen Sharing on the target Mac (or use a rented Mac where it is pre‑enabled).
- Install Docker Desktop on the local machine that will run the MCP server.
- Run the Docker image with your macOS credentials:
{
"mcpServers": {
"remote-macos-use": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"-e",
"MACOS_USERNAME=your_macos_username",
"-e",
"MACOS_PASSWORD=your_macos_password",
"-e",
"MACOS_HOST=your_macos_hostname_or_ip",
"--rm",
"buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest"
]
}
}
}
- Add the server to Claude Desktop (or any MCP‑compatible client) using the above configuration.
- Invoke the provided tools (e.g.,
remote_macos_get_screen,remote_macos_mouse_click,remote_macos_open_application) from your AI agent's workflow.
Key Features
- Zero extra API costs – screen processing uses your existing Claude Pro plan.
- Minimal setup – only macOS Screen Sharing required; no background agents.
- Universal macOS compatibility – works across all macOS versions, now with WebRTC low‑latency support via LiveKit.
- Docker‑based deployment – single‑command image, multi‑platform publishing via
docker buildx. - Comprehensive toolset – screenshot, keyboard input, mouse move/click/drag/scroll, application launch, etc.
- Open architecture – compatible with any LLM provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.) and any MCP client.
Use Cases
- AI Recruiter – automatically gather candidate data, qualify applicants, and schedule interviews through Mail and Calendar apps.
- AI Marketing Intern – perform LinkedIn or Twitter engagement (follow, like, comment) at scale.
- Content Creation – control video editors like CapCut to produce highlight reels without manual clicks.
- Research Automation – browse Twitter, collect information, and post updates autonomously.
- General Desktop Automation – any task that traditionally requires a human to click, type, or launch apps on macOS can be delegated to an AI agent.
FAQ
Q: Do I need to install anything on the remote Mac? A: No. Enabling macOS Screen Sharing is sufficient; the server runs completely on your local Docker host.
Q: Which authentication protocols are supported? A: Only Apple Authentication protocol 30 (Diffie‑Hellman with a 512‑bit prime) is implemented.
Q: Can I use WebRTC instead of VNC? A: Yes. Set up a LiveKit server (or use LiveKit Cloud) and provide the required LiveKit environment variables in the Docker run command.
Q: Is this compatible with other LLM providers? A: The MCP server is LLM‑agnostic; any client that follows the Model Context Protocol can interact with it.
Q: How do I publish the image for multiple architectures? A: Use Docker Buildx:
docker buildx create --use
docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 -t buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest --push .
Mcp Remote Macos Use's README
MCP Server - Remote MacOs Use
The first open-source MCP server that enables AI to fully control remote macOS systems.
A direct alternative to OpenAI Operator, optimized specifically for autonomous AI agents with complete desktop capabilities, requiring no additional software installation.
Showcases
-
Research Twitter and Post Twitter(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--QHz2jcvcs)
-
Use CapCut to create short highlight video(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKAqiNoU8ec)
-
AI Recruiter: Automated candidate information collection, qualifying applications and sending screening sessions using Mail App
-
AI Marketing Intern: LinkedIn engagement - automated following, liking, and commenting with relevant users
-
AI Marketing Intern: Twitter engagement - automated following, liking, and commenting with relevant users
To-Do List (Prioritized)
- Performance Optimization - Match speed of Ubuntu desktop alternatives
- Apple Scripts Generation - Reduce execution time while maintaining flexibility
- VNC Cursor Visibility - Improve debugging and demo experience
We welcome contributions!
Features
- No Extra API Costs: Free screen processing with your existing Claude Pro plan
- Minimal Setup: Just enable Screen Sharing on the target Mac – no additional software needed
- Universal Compatibility: Works with all macOS versions, current and future
Why We Built This
Native macOS Experience Without Compromise
The macOS native ecosystem remains unmatched in user experience today and will continue to be the gold standard for years to come. This is where human capabilities truly thrive, and now your AI can operate in this environment with the same fluency.
Open Architecture By Design
- Universal LLM Compatibility: Work with any MCP Client of your choice
- Model Flexibility: Seamlessly integrate with OpenAI, Anthropic, or any other LLM provider
- Future-Proof Integration: Designed to evolve with the MCP ecosystem
Effortless Deployment
- Zero Setup on Target Machines: No background applications or agents needed on macOS
- Screen Sharing is All You Need: Control any Mac with Screen Sharing enabled
- Eliminate Backend Complexity: Unlike other solutions that require running Python applications or background services
Streamlined Bootstrap Process
- Leverage Claude Desktop's Polished UI: No need for developer-style Python interfaces
- Intuitive User Experience: Interact with your AI-controlled Mac through a familiar, user-friendly interface
- Instant Productivity: Start working immediately without configuration hassles
Architecture
Installation
- Enable Screen Sharing on MacOs If you rent a mac from macstadium.com, you can skip this step
- Connect to your remote MacOs
- Install Docker Desktop for local Mac
- Add this MCP server to Claude Desktop You can configure Claude Desktop to use the Docker image by adding the following to your Claude configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"remote-macos-use": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"-e",
"MACOS_USERNAME=your_macos_username",
"-e",
"MACOS_PASSWORD=your_macos_password",
"-e",
"MACOS_HOST=your_macos_hostname_or_ip",
"--rm",
"buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest"
]
}
}
}
WebRTC Support via LiveKit
This server now includes WebRTC support through LiveKit integration, enabling:
- Low-latency real-time screen sharing
- Improved performance and responsiveness
- Better network efficiency compared to traditional VNC
- Automatic quality adaptation based on network conditions
To use WebRTC features, you'll need to:
- Set up a LiveKit server or use LiveKit Cloud
- Configure the LiveKit environment variables as shown in the configuration example above
Developer Instruction
Clone the repo
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/mcp-remote-macos-use.git
cd mcp-remote-macos-use
Building the Docker Image
# Build the Docker image
docker build -t mcp-remote-macos-use .
Cross-Platform Publishing
To publish the Docker image for multiple platforms, you can use the docker buildx command. Follow these steps:
-
Create a new builder instance (if you haven't already):
docker buildx create --use -
Build and push the image for multiple platforms:
docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 -t buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest --push . -
Verify the image is available for the specified platforms:
docker buildx imagetools inspect buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest
Usage
The server provides Remote MacOs functionality through MCP tools.
Tools Specifications
The server provides the following tools for remote macOS control:
remote_macos_get_screen
Connect to a remote macOS machine and get a screenshot of the remote desktop. Uses environment variables for connection details.
remote_macos_send_keys
Send keyboard input to a remote macOS machine. Uses environment variables for connection details.
remote_macos_mouse_move
Move the mouse cursor to specified coordinates on a remote macOS machine, with automatic coordinate scaling. Uses environment variables for connection details.
remote_macos_mouse_click
Perform a mouse click at specified coordinates on a remote macOS machine, with automatic coordinate scaling. Uses environment variables for connection details.
remote_macos_mouse_double_click
Perform a mouse double-click at specified coordinates on a remote macOS machine, with automatic coordinate scaling. Uses environment variables for connection details.
remote_macos_mouse_scroll
Perform a mouse scroll at specified coordinates on a remote macOS machine, with automatic coordinate scaling. Uses environment variables for connection details.
remote_macos_open_application
Opens/activates an application and returns its PID for further interactions.
remote_macos_mouse_drag_n_drop
Perform a mouse drag operation from start point and drop to end point on a remote macOS machine, with automatic coordinate scaling.
All tools use the environment variables configured during setup instead of requiring connection parameters.
Limitations
- Authentication Support:
- Only Apple Authentication (protocol 30) is supported
Security Note
https://support.apple.com/guide/remote-desktop/encrypt-network-data-apdfe8e386b/mac https://cafbit.com/post/apple_remote_desktop_quirks/
We only support protocol 30, which uses the Diffie-Hellman key agreement protocol with a 512-bit prime. This protocol is used by macOS 11 to macOS 12 when communicating with OS X 10.11 or earlier clients.
Here's the information converted to a markdown table:
| macOS version running Remote Desktop | macOS client version | Authentication | Control and Observe | Copy items or install package | All other tasks | Protocol Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| macOS 13 | macOS 13 | 2048-bit RSA host keys | 2048-bit RSA host keys | 2048-bit RSA host keys to authenticate, then 128-bit AES | 2048-bit RSA host keys | 36 |
| macOS 13 | macOS 10.12 | Secure Remote Password (SRP) protocol for local only. Diffie-Hellman (DH) if bound to LDAP or macOS server is version 10.11 or earlier | SRP or DH,128-bit AES | SRP or DH to authenticate, then 128-bit AES | 2048-bit RSA host keys | 35 |
| macOS 11 to macOS 12 | macOS 10.12 to macOS 13 | Secure Remote Password (SRP) protocol for local only, Diffie-Hellman if bound to LDAP | SRP or DH 1024-bit, 128-bit AES | 2048-bit RSA host keys macOS 13 to macOS 10.13 | 2048-bit RSA host keys macOS 10.13 or later | 33 |
| macOS 11 to macOS 12 | OS X 10.11 or earlier | DH 1024-bit | DH 1024-bit, 128-bit AES | Diffie-Hellman Key agreement protocol with a 512-bit prime | Diffie-Hellman Key agreement protocol with a 512-bit prime | 30 |
Always use secure, authenticated connections when accessing remote remote MacOs machines. This tool should only be used with servers you trust and have permission to access.
License
See the LICENSE file for details.
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