Reference documentation for Xcode’s MCP server. It lets AI coding assistants browse and edit projects, build apps, run tests, and render previews.
Covers Xcode 27. See the changelog for changes since Xcode 26.5 and the additions in Xcode 27.2 beta.
1. Open your project or workspace in Xcode 27. For setup without an Xcode window, see Headless mode.
2. Register the server with your coding tool. xcrun mcpbridge is the bridge into Xcode:
# Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport stdio xcode -- xcrun mcpbridge
# Codex
codex mcp add xcode -- xcrun mcpbridge3. Verify with claude mcp list / codex mcp list, then ask the assistant to call XcodeListWindows — it returns the open windows and the tabIdentifier of each.
Choosing a workspace: most tools take an optional
tabIdentifier— which Xcode workspace tab to act on. Omit it when only one tab is open. In headless mode it is namedworkspaceIdentifierand takes a workspace identifier or an absolute path instead.
| Category | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Workspaces and Projects | Open workspaces and create projects or targets |
| Files | Find, read, and edit project files |
| Configuration | Manage targets, schemes, destinations, and build settings |
| Build and Run | Build and launch apps, inspect diagnostics and logs |
| Previews and Debugging | Render previews, run snippets, and use LLDB |
| Testing | Select test plans and run tests |
| Devices and Simulators | Install apps and interact with their UI |
| Localization | Read and translate String Catalogs |
| Crashes and Performance | Investigate crash and performance reports |
| Documentation | Search Apple Developer Documentation |
| Guide | Contents |
|---|---|
| Tool reference | Full tool index, parameters, and examples |
| Headless mode | Setup without an Xcode window, permissions, and server internals |
| Agent tooling | Bridge configuration, agent launcher, skill export, and the separate LLDB server |
| Schemas | Raw MCP tool definitions by Xcode version and mode |
| Changelog | Changes in Xcode 27 and 27.2 beta |
- Setting up coding intelligence
- Writing code with intelligence in Xcode
- Giving agentic coding tools access to Xcode
Artem Novichkov, https://artemnovichkov.com