Content
# 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.**
[](https://hub.docker.com/r/buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use)
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
**Showcases**
- Research Twitter and Post Twitter(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--QHz2jcvcs)
<img width="400" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/bfe6e354-3d59-4d08-855b-2eecdaaeb46f" />
- Use CapCut to create short highlight video(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKAqiNoU8ec)
<img width="400" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3b4d07c5-cd25-4dae-b9a1-a373bf7492aa" />
- 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)
1. **Performance Optimization** - Match speed of Ubuntu desktop alternatives
2. **Apple Scripts Generation** - Reduce execution time while maintaining flexibility
3. **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
<img width="912" alt="remote_macos_use_system_architecture" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/75ece060-90e2-4ad3-bb52-2c69427001dd" />
## Installation
- [Enable Screen Sharing on MacOs](https://support.apple.com/guide/remote-desktop/set-up-a-computer-running-vnc-software-apdbed09830/mac) **If you rent a mac from macstadium.com, you can skip this step**
- [Connect to your remote MacOs](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-the-screen-of-another-mac-mh14066/mac)
- [Install Docker Desktop for local Mac](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/setup/install/mac-install/)
- [Add this MCP server to Claude Desktop](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/quickstart/user)
You can configure Claude Desktop to use the Docker image by adding the following to your Claude configuration:
```json
{
"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:
1. Set up a LiveKit server or use LiveKit Cloud
2. Configure the LiveKit environment variables as shown in the configuration example above
## Developer Instruction
### Clone the repo
```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/mcp-remote-macos-use.git
cd mcp-remote-macos-use
```
### Building the Docker Image
```bash
# 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:
1. **Create a new builder instance** (if you haven't already):
```bash
docker buildx create --use
```
2. **Build and push the image for multiple platforms**:
```bash
docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 -t buryhuang/mcp-remote-macos-use:latest --push .
```
3. **Verify the image is available for the specified platforms**:
```bash
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.
