home / mcp / screeny mcp server

Screeny MCP Server

Screeny is a privacy-focused macOS MCP server enabling AI agents to capture screenshots of user-approved windows

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rohanrav-screeny": {
      "command": "mcp-server-screeny",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Screeny MCP Server provides a privacy-first, macOS-only MCP server that lets AI agents obtain context through pre-approved window screenshots taken entirely on your device. It emphasizes user control and local processing to help you debug and develop with secure visual data.

How to use

You will run the Screeny MCP Server locally and connect your MCP client (such as Claude Desktop or Cursor) to it. You can list only the windows you have approved, then request screenshots of a specific window by its ID. Screenshots are captured in the background, using the exact pixel data of the chosen window, and are deleted after use.

How to install

Prerequisites: macOS, Python 3.10+, and the Screen Capture permission granted to the terminal and your MCP host application.

Install via pipx to run the server locally:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "screeny": {
      "command": "mcp-server-screeny",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

If you prefer using uvx for running the local server, configure it like this:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "screeny": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-screeny"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration and setup details

Grant Screen Capture permission to both your Terminal application and your MCP host (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.). This ensures the server can capture windows during setup and operation.

During setup, you will approve which windows can be captured. Interactive setup allows you to approve windows one by one, or auto-approve all current windows.

Advanced options

You can control the screenshot size preset to balance stability and detail. Common presets include Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, and XL, with the active cap stored locally.

Security & privacy

Only user-approved windows can be captured. All processing stays on your machine, and screenshots are temporary and deleted after use.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter permission issues, run a debug check and re-run setup after adjusting permissions.

Common issues include missing camera-like permissions or no approved windows. Re-run the setup to re-authorize windows.

Available tools

listWindows

Lists all approved application windows available for screenshot capture. Only shows user approved windows.

takeScreenshot

Captures a screenshot of a specific window by its ID. Captures windows in the background and provides a full-fidelity JPEG image with a base64 payload.

screeny_info

Provides server information and configuration details via the screeny://info endpoint.