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README

Mac Messages MCP

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

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Features

Read recent messages from the macOS Messages app
Filter messages by contact
Send new messages through iMessage
Access messages via an API

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:

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

Integration

Claude Desktop Integration

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

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

Cursor Integration

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

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
result = send_message(recipient="+1234567890", message="Hello from Mac Messages MCP!")
print(result)

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.

mac_messages_mcp