# Apple Tools (Unified)

A single MCP server that hands your agent ten macOS apps and tools: Mail, Calendar, Reminders, Messages, Contacts, Notes, Files, Maps, System and Shortcuts. It runs on your Mac.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 29
- Author: JonathanRReed
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/JonathanRReed/Apple-MCPs/tree/HEAD/apple-tools-mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/apple-tools-unified

## What it does

Start it with `uvx apple-tools-mcp` and the client gets tools that read from and write to Apple apps. Messages go out over iMessage unless you pass `service_name` as `SMS` or `RCS`. Mail search always needs a query — a sender, part of a subject, or `*`.

Safety modes decide what the tools may touch. Mail runs as `safe_manage` under `uvx` and `pip`, while the Claude Desktop bundles ship with `full_access`. Attachments stay off until you point `APPLE_MAIL_MCP_ALLOWED_ATTACHMENT_ROOT` at a folder. Files tools reach only the paths listed in `APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS`.

You need Python 3.11+ on macOS, and you approve permissions yourself in the system prompt or System Settings. Streamable HTTP binds to `127.0.0.1`, `::1` or `localhost` only, because there is no remote authentication — a tunnel or public proxy would leave it open. Returned data goes to your client, which may forward it to its model provider, so running locally does not keep it local.

## Requirements
- Needs: Python and uv (commands run via uvx)
- Environment variables: `APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE`, `APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE`, `APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE`, `APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE`, `APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS`, `APPLE_SYSTEM_MCP_SAFETY_MODE`, `APPLE_SYSTEM_MCP_GUI_ALLOWED_APPS`, `APPLE_CONTACTS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE`, `APPLE_NOTES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE`, `APPLE_MESSAGES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE=<APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE> --env APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> --env APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> --env APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> --env APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS=<APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS> --transport stdio apple-tools-mcp -- uvx apple-tools-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values. 7 more environment variables are in the server README. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from apple-tools-mcp <command>

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add apple-tools-mcp --env APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE=<APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE> --env APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> --env APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> --env APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> --env APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS=<APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS> -- uvx apple-tools-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values. 7 more environment variables are in the server README. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from apple-tools-mcp <command>

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apple-tools-mcp": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "apple-tools-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE": "<APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE>",
                "APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE": "<APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE>",
                "APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE": "<APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE>",
                "APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE": "<APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE>",
                "APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS": "<APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values. 7 more environment variables are in the server README. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from apple-tools-mcp <command>

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "apple-tools-mcp": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "apple-tools-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE": "<APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE>",
                "APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE": "<APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE>",
                "APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE": "<APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE>",
                "APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE": "<APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE>",
                "APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS": "<APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values. 7 more environment variables are in the server README. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from apple-tools-mcp <command>

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE=<APPLE_MAIL_MCP_SAFETY_PROFILE> -e APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_CALENDAR_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> -e APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_REMINDERS_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> -e APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE=<APPLE_FILES_MCP_SAFETY_MODE> -e APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS=<APPLE_FILES_MCP_ALLOWED_ROOTS> apple-tools-mcp uvx apple-tools-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values. 7 more environment variables are in the server README. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from apple-tools-mcp <command>

## When to use it
- turn a chat message into a reminder
- pull a mail thread by sender and reply in it
- check the calendar and suggest a free slot
- send an iMessage or an SMS through the paired iPhone
- triage incoming mail and build a morning briefing

## Example prompts
- Find the latest mail from `boss@example.com` and show it
- Create a reminder for tomorrow with the `-08:00` offset
- Build my daily briefing from the calendar and unread messages

## Similar
- [REA](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rea.md) — MCP server · ★ 386989
- [GitHub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github.md) — MCP server · ★ 33918
- [Netdata](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/netdata.md) — MCP server · ★ 81115
- [browser-use](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/browser-use.md) — MCP server · ★ 119160
- [Codebase Memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/codebase-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 47392
- [mcp-server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 43872

From the same set: [jonathanrreed/apple-mcps](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/jonathanrreed/apple-mcps.md) — 4 cards

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md