Xcode MCP Server

What is Xcode MCP Server?

Xcode MCP Server is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that enables AI assistants to control and interact with Xcode for Apple platform development. It is built for macOS and requires Xcode and Python 3.10+.

How to use Xcode MCP Server?

Install via uv and configure in your MCP client (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or Cursor) using the provided JSON commands. Security is managed via the XCODEMCP_ALLOWED_FOLDERS environment variable to restrict which directories the server can access.

Key features of Xcode MCP Server

• Discover and navigate Xcode projects and source files
• Build and run iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS applications
• Execute and monitor tests with detailed results
• Debug build failures by retrieving errors and warnings
• Capture console output and take screenshots
• Manage simulators and view their status

Use cases of Xcode MCP Server

• Have an AI assistant find and build your Xcode project
• Automate test execution and failure reporting
• Troubleshoot build errors without leaving the AI chat
• Run and capture simulator or Xcode window screenshots
• Manage simulator devices programmatically

FAQ from Xcode MCP Server

What are the system requirements?

macOS is required, along with Xcode and Python 3.10+. The uv package manager is also needed for installation.

How do I restrict which folders the server can access?

Set the XCODEMCP_ALLOWED_FOLDERS environment variable to a colon-separated list of absolute directory paths. If unset, the server defaults to your home directory.

What can the server do for me?

It allows AI assistants to discover projects, build and run apps, execute tests, debug build failures, capture console output and screenshots, and manage simulators.

How do I set it up with Claude Desktop?

Add an entry to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json with the command uvx and argument xcode-mcp-server. You can optionally add an env section for folder restrictions.

What are the known limitations?

AppleScript syntax may need adjustments for specific Xcode versions, and some operations require the project to be open in Xcode first.