Shortcuts MCP

A TypeScript MCP server that connects LLMs to your macOS Shortcuts library. Interactive workflows with file pickers, dialogs, and prompts work through AppleScript integration, while CLI handles discovery and management.

Why This Exists

I wanted to integrate my existing automation workflows with AI assistance. Rather than manually triggering shortcuts outside of my LLM and then copying results back, this server lets me run shortcuts directly within AI conversations for better automation.

What You Get

• Purpose Annotations: Record what shortcuts do as you use them, building discoverable intent across sessions
• Smart Discovery: Browse shortcuts by what they do, not just their name — intent matching without prompting
• Case-Insensitive Names: Pass shortcut names as-is; resolution handles casing automatically
• Interactive Support: File pickers, dialogs, and prompts work normally through AppleScript execution
• Hybrid Integration: AppleScript for compatibility + CLI for discovery and management
• Permission Handling: Location services, system integrations work with proper permission context
• All Shortcut Types: Interactive workflows and automation both work reliably
• Reliable Execution: No hanging on permission requests or interactive elements
• Local Usage Tracking: Execution history and preferences stored only on your computer
• Usage Analytics: Automatic pattern analysis via MCP sampling (when supported)

Installation

Option 1: MCP Bundle (.mcpb) - Recommended

1. Download the latest .mcpb file from Releases
2. Double-click the .mcpb file or drag it onto Claude Desktop
3. Click “Install” in the Claude Desktop UI
4. Restart Claude Desktop

Option 2: Manual Installation

Clone and build locally for development:

git clone https://github.com/foxtrottwist/shortcuts-mcp.git
cd shortcuts-mcp
pnpm install
pnpm build

Add to your MCP client configuration. For Claude Desktop:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "shortcuts-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/shortcuts-mcp/dist/server.js"]
    }
  }
}

Tested MCP Clients

This server has been tested with the following MCP clients:

• Claude Desktop
• LM Studio - Tested with models like gpt-oss and qwen3-1.7b (manual installation only)

How to Use It

Interactive Workflows

Run my "Photo Organizer" shortcut

File pickers and dialogs appear normally for user interaction. All shortcut types work including location-based and permission-requiring workflows.

Finding the Right Shortcut

What shortcuts do I have for file processing?
What shortcuts have I used this week?
Which of my shortcuts work best for photo editing?