What can you do with this server?

The ios-agent-driver server lets an AI agent programmatically control and interact with the iOS Simulator, enabling automated app testing and UI-driven workflows through a perceive → decide → act → observe loop. Simulator Lifecycle Management * List simulators: View all available devices with their UDID, name, state, and runtime. * Boot a simulator: Start a simulator by UDID, or default to the already-booted/first available iPhone. * Install, launch, terminate, and reset apps: Manage app lifecycle by bundle ID; reset uninstalls and reinstalls for a clean state. Navigation & Permissions * Open deep links: Navigate directly to a specific screen via URL or universal link. * Set permissions: Grant, revoke, or reset privacy permissions (photos, camera, location, notifications, contacts, microphone, etc.). UI Perception * Describe the UI (describe_ui): Retrieve the full accessibility tree of the current screen as structured JSON (labels, types, values, enabled state, frames) — the primary way the agent reads the screen. * Take a screenshot: Capture a PNG of the current screen as a visual fallback for custom-drawn views or general state verification. UI Interaction * Tap: Tap a UI element by accessibility label (preferred) or by raw x,y coordinates; missing labels report nearest available labels instead of failing silently. * Type text: Enter text into the currently focused input field. * Swipe: Scroll or swipe by direction (up/down/left/right) or explicit from/to coordinates. * Press hardware buttons: Simulate HOME, LOCK, SIDE_BUTTON, SIRI, or APPLE_PAY presses.

Which integrations are available for this server?

Allows an AI agent to control the iOS Simulator, performing actions such as tapping, typing, swiping, and reading the accessibility tree to test iOS apps programmatically.

How do I use ios-agent-driver?

1. Click on "Deploy Server". 2. Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state. 3. In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@ios-agent-driver Open Settings and confirm Notifications is enabled" That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed. Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.

ios-agent-driver

by CodeJonesW

Overview Schema Source Related Servers Discussions Admin

TypeScript

Local

ios-agent-driver

An MCP server that lets an AI agent drive the iOS Simulator in a loop — so an agent can actually use your app: tap, type, swipe, read the screen, and verify what happened.

It bridges the gap between iOS development and agentic testing. The primitives to control a simulator exist (xcrun simctl, Meta's idb), but nothing packages them into tools an agent can call to close the perceive → decide → act → observe loop. This does.

Accessibility-tree-first perception. The agent reasons over labeled UI elements (describe_ui) and taps by label, not by guessing pixel coordinates — far more robust to layout changes.
Screenshot fallback. For custom-drawn views that don't expose accessibility, screenshot gives a vision fallback and a way to verify state.
Loud failures. A tap on a missing label returns the nearest labels on screen, not a silent no-op.

How it works

Agent (Claude / any MCP client)
   goal: "log a leg workout, confirm it appears in History"
        observe → decide → act → observe  (loop)
        │  MCP (stdio)
   ios-agent-driver
        │                         │
   xcrun simctl              idb (+ companion)
   lifecycle, screenshots    accessibility tree,
   deeplinks, permissions    tap / type / swipe by element

Related MCP server: app-screen-mcp

Requirements

macOS with Xcode (provides xcrun simctl)

idb for UI perception and actions:

brew tap facebook/fb && brew trust facebook/fb
brew install facebook/fb/idb-companion   # source build — needs current Xcode Command Line Tools
pip3 install fb-idb                       # the `idb` CLI; use pipx/venv if pip is externally-managed
idb list-targets                          # confirm it sees your booted sim

If the companion build errors with “Command Line Tools are too outdated”, update them (System Settings › Software Update, or xcode-select --install). Lifecycle tools work without idb; describe_ui / tap / type_text / swipe require it and will tell you how to install it if it's missing.

Node.js ≥ 18

Install

git clone https://github.com/CodeJonesW/ios-agent-driver.git
cd ios-agent-driver
npm install      # builds via the prepare script

Register with Claude Code

Add to your MCP config (user-level ~/.claude.json, or a project .mcp.json):

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

Or with the Claude Code CLI:

claude mcp add ios-agent-driver -- node /absolute/path/to/ios-agent-driver/dist/server.js

Tools

Tool	Backend	Purpose
`list_sims`	simctl	List devices (udid, name, state, runtime).
`boot_sim`	simctl	Boot a sim (defaults to booted, else first iPhone).
`install_app`	simctl	Install a built `.app` bundle.
`launch`	simctl	Launch an app by bundle id.
`terminate`	simctl	Terminate a running app.
`reset_app`	simctl	Uninstall + reinstall for a clean state.
`deeplink`	simctl	Open a URL / universal link.
`set_permission`	simctl	Grant/revoke/reset a privacy permission.
`describe_ui`	idb	Primary perception — accessibility tree as JSON.
`screenshot`	simctl	PNG of the current screen (vision fallback).
`tap`	idb	Tap by accessibility label (preferred) or x,y.
`type_text`	idb	Type into the focused field.
`swipe`	idb	Swipe/scroll by direction or coordinates.
`press_button`	idb	Hardware buttons (HOME, LOCK, …).

The loop, by example

A typical agent goal runs as a bounded loop:

GOAL: "open Settings and confirm Notifications is enabled"
1. boot_sim
2. launch { bundle_id: "com.apple.Preferences" }
3. describe_ui            → see "Notifications" cell
4. tap { label: "Notifications" }
5. describe_ui            → assert the toggle state
   (re-read after each action; stop when the goal predicate holds
    or a step budget is exhausted)

The agent owns the loop and the success predicate; this server provides the primitives. That keeps the tool simple and the test logic where it belongs.

Development

npm run build     # compile TypeScript → dist/
npm start         # run the server on stdio

License

MIT © Will Jones (CodeJonesW)

Available Tools

14 tools

boot_simB

Boot a simulator. Defaults to the already-booted sim, else the first available iPhone.

Inputs: udid.

deeplinkB

Open a URL / universal link in the simulator (jump straight to a screen).

Inputs: url (required), udid.

describe_uiA

PRIMARY PERCEPTION. Return the accessibility tree of the current screen as a list of elements (label, type, value, enabled, frame). Reason over this and tap by label.

Inputs: interactive_only, udid.

install_appB

Install a built .app bundle onto the simulator.

Inputs: app_path (required), udid.

launchA

Launch an installed app by bundle id. Returns the launch output (pid).

Inputs: bundle_id (required), udid.

list_simsA

List available simulator devices (udid, name, state, runtime).

Inputs: no named parameters.

press_buttonC

Press a hardware button (HOME backgrounds the app; LOCK locks the screen).

Inputs: button (required), udid.

reset_appC

Uninstall then reinstall an app for a clean state.

Inputs: bundle_id (required), app_path (required), udid.

screenshotA

Capture a PNG screenshot of the current screen. Use as the vision fallback when an element is not exposed in the accessibility tree, or to verify state.

Inputs: udid.

set_permissionB

Grant/revoke/reset a privacy permission for an app (e.g. photos, camera, location, notifications).

Inputs: action (required), service (required), bundle_id (required), udid.

swipeA

Swipe/scroll from one point to another. Either give a direction (auto-computed from screen center) or explicit from/to coordinates.

Inputs: direction, from_x, from_y, to_x, +3 more.

tapA

Tap an element by accessibility label (preferred) or by raw x,y coordinate (fallback). Provide either label or both x and y.

Inputs: label, x, y, udid.

terminateC

Terminate a running app by bundle id.

Inputs: bundle_id (required), udid.

type_textB

Type text into the currently focused field. Tap the field first to focus it.

Inputs: text (required), udid.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Loading tool schema changelog…

Deploy Server

One endpoint for every MCP toolRayrun runs every MCP server behind one URL and holds the credentials. Each call is decided per client, tool, and argument, then recorded.ray.runAd

TDQS

A3.7/5.0

Scored 2026-06-20 17:25 across 14 tools

Disambiguation5/5

Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose: simulator management (boot_sim, list_sims), app lifecycle (install_app, launch, terminate, reset_app), interaction (tap, swipe, type_text, press_button), perception (describe_ui, screenshot), and configuration (set_permission, deeplink). No two tools overlap in functionality.

Naming Consistency5/5

All tool names follow a consistent lowercase underscore convention (snake_case) with imperative verbs (e.g., boot_sim, install_app, describe_ui). The pattern is uniform across all 14 tools, enhancing predictability.

Tool Count5/5

14 tools is well-scoped for an iOS simulator driver, covering essential operations: setup, app management, interaction, perception, and configuration. The count is neither excessive nor insufficient for the domain.

Completeness4/5

The toolset covers core simulator workflows: app install/launch/terminate/reset, UI interaction (tap, swipe, type), perception (accessibility tree, screenshot), and permissions. Minor gaps exist (e.g., no dedicated uninstall or app state query), but agents can work around them.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive

ResponsivenessNo recent community issues

Resources

Related MCP Connectors

thumbs
com.usethumbs
Give an AI agent an iPhone to see, tap and type on over MCP. Free early access (Simulator).
App Automation OS Automation Autonomous Agents
1
https://mcp.usethumbs.com/mcp
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Let your AI agent control real iPhones: screenshots, tap, swipe, type and open apps.
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1
https://api.invilabs.io/mcp
NoMac Simulator
app.nomac
Cloud iPhone Simulators for AI agents: build the Xcode project, read the screen, tap by label, test.
Developer Tools Testing & QA Tools
1
https://mcp.nomac.app/simulator
NoMacA
app.nomac
Cloud iPhones and Macs with Xcode for AI agents: build, run and test iOS apps, use the screen.
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331
https://mcp.nomac.app/mcp

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ios-agent-driver

How it works

Requirements

Install

Register with Claude Code

Tools

The loop, by example

Development

License

Available Tools

Tool Schema Changelog

TDQS

Maintenance

Resources

Related MCP Connectors

Related MCP Servers

iOS simulators MCP

app-screen-mcp

ios-sim-mcp

preflight-ios-mcp