MCP Directory

How to add MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb) to Claude Desktop

Control iOS simulators with natural-language commands from your LLM, powered by Facebook's idb. Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 14, 2026 · 306★ · stdio · no auth

Claude Desktop config for MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb)

git clone https://github.com/InditexTech/mcp-server-simulator-ios-idb.git && cd mcp-server-simulator-ios-idb && npm install && npm run build
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-server-for-ios-simulator-idb": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/mcp-server-simulator-ios-idb/dist/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

  1. 1Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config (this opens ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json).
  2. 2Paste the MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb) config below under the top-level "mcpServers" key.
  3. 3Fill in any placeholder secrets (API keys, paths) in the snippet.
  4. 4Save the file, then fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop.
  5. 5Open a chat and confirm MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb)'s tools appear under the 🔌 tools menu.

Before you start

  • macOS (required for iOS simulator support)
  • Node.js v14.0.0 or higher
  • Homebrew (for installing dependencies)
  • Xcode with iOS simulators installed
  • idb-companion (installed via Homebrew) and fb-idb (installed via pip in a Python virtual environment)

What MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb) can do in Claude Desktop

process-instruction

Accepts a natural-language `instruction` argument and executes it against the iOS simulator. Supports the full range of idb CLI operations: simulator management (create/terminate session, list/boot/shutdown/focus simulators), app management (install/launch/terminate/uninstall/list apps, check if installed), UI interaction (tap, swipe, press button, input text, press key/key sequence), accessibility (describe elements, describe point), capture and logs (take screenshot, record/stop video, get logs), debugging (start/stop debug, debug status), crash logs (list/show/delete), and additional commands (install dylib, open URL, clear keychain, set location, add media, approve permissions, update contacts).

Security

Runs locally over stdio with no authentication. The server controls iOS simulators on the host via idb and can install apps, inject media, manage contacts, and perform keychain operations — only run it against trusted simulators and inputs. macOS-only; requires idb-companion (Homebrew) and fb-idb (pip in a Python venv) to be installed.

MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb) + Claude Desktop FAQ

Where is the Claude Desktop config file?

Claude Desktop reads MCP servers from ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Paste the MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb) config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb) safe to use with Claude Desktop?

Runs locally over stdio with no authentication. The server controls iOS simulators on the host via idb and can install apps, inject media, manage contacts, and perform keychain operations — only run it against trusted simulators and inputs. macOS-only; requires idb-companion (Homebrew) and fb-idb (pip in a Python venv) to be installed.

Does this work on Windows or Linux?

No. macOS is required because it depends on Xcode iOS simulators and Facebook's idb tooling.

How do I add it to Claude Desktop?

Add an entry under mcpServers in your Claude Desktop MCP settings with command 'node' and args pointing to the built dist/index.js, e.g. "/path/to/mcp-server-simulator-ios-idb/dist/index.js". You can then issue natural-language commands to control the simulator.

Can I use it without an MCP client?

Yes. The package can be imported as a TypeScript library via createMCPServer(), which returns an orchestrator whose processInstruction() method accepts natural-language commands; you can also use IDBManager, NLParser, and MCPOrchestrator directly.

View repo Full MCP Server for iOS Simulator (idb) page