What
A comprehensive, in-process MCP server that allows Claude to control macOS desktop applications — clicking, typing, scrolling, dragging, and taking screenshots — with a tiered permission system.
Usage
claude --computer-use-mcpDetails
- Applications must be explicitly approved by the user via
request_accessbefore any interaction - Three permission tiers: read (screenshots only, no interaction), click (visible + plain left-click), and full (typing, key presses, modifier-clicks, drag-drop)
- Browsers and trading apps default to "read" tier; terminals/IDEs default to "click" tier; other apps get "full"
- Tool set includes:
screenshot,left_click,right_click,middle_click,double_click,triple_click,type,key,hold_key,scroll,mouse_move,left_mouse_down,left_mouse_up,left_click_drag,mouse_position,computer_batch,activate_app,switch_display,read_clipboard,write_clipboard,zoom,wait,list_granted_applications computer_batchexecutes a sequence of actions in ONE tool call, avoiding round-trip latency between steps- Multi-monitor support with
switch_displayto capture different monitors - Clipboard read/write requires separate grant flags (
clipboardRead,clipboardWrite) - System-level key combos (e.g. Cmd+Q, Ctrl+Alt+Delete) require the
systemKeyCombosgrant - Pixel comparison validation detects when screen content changed since last screenshot
- Includes a comprehensive deny-list for sensitive apps (financial, crypto wallets, etc.) that cannot be controlled
- macOS Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions required
- Esc hotkey registered for user to abort computer control at any time
Evidence
In-process Computer Use MCP server (search for "In-process Computer Use MCP server started", "--computer-use-mcp", "request_access")
Strings lifted out of the shipped bundle, so the claim above can be checked against them.