Apple Books MCP

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About Apple Books MCP

Apple Books MCP Server

#productivity #apple #ai #mcp #apple-books #llm #mcp-server

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-books-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "apple-books-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

No tools detected

We auto-extract tools from the README. The maintainer can list them under a ## Tools heading to populate this section.

Overview

What is Apple Books MCP?

Apple Books MCP is a Model Context Protocol server that reads your local Apple Books library, giving Claude access to your books, annotations, highlights, and reading progress. It is intended for readers who want to discuss, summarize, or reflect on their Apple Books library with an AI assistant.

How to use Apple Books MCP?

Install via uvx, pip, or Docker, then add the server to Claude Desktop’s mcpServers configuration. On first run, macOS will prompt you to allow access to Apple Books’ private data container. After granting permission, all read‑only tools are available; editing collections requires the --enable-writes flag.

Key features of Apple Books MCP

Browse all books, collections, and annotations.
Read chapter text from non‑DRM EPUBs.
Get your current reading position with chapter context.
Search highlights, notes, and annotations across all books.
Create, rename, delete, and edit collections (opt‑in, with safety backups).

Use cases of Apple Books MCP

Resume reading: ask Claude what chapter you’re on and get a preview.
Explore highlights: expand on a highlight with surrounding paragraph context.
Reflect: generate a weekly reading digest or a library snapshot.
Revisit a book: pull all highlights and notes for a specific title.

FAQ from Apple Books MCP

Does Apple Books MCP work with DRM‑protected books?

No. Apple Books Store purchases are FairPlay‑protected and return a clear error. Only non‑DRM EPUBs (imported books, Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks) are supported for chapter content.

Does the server modify my Apple Books data by default?

No. All tools are read‑only by default. Writing to collections requires the --enable-writes flag and comes with guard rails: it refuses while Books is open, creates a WAL‑safe backup, validates the schema, and only touches user‑created collections.

Why do I see a macOS permission prompt on first use?

The server reads Apple Books’ private sandboxed container at ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iBooksX/. macOS treats this as data from another app and asks for your permission. The server runs either way, but without permission all tools return empty results.

Can I sync collection edits to other devices via iCloud?

If iCloud sync for collections is enabled, direct edits made with the --enable-writes flag may not propagate to other devices and can be reverted by a cloud re‑sync.

What transport does Apple Books MCP use?

The server uses standard MCP over stdio. It is designed to work with MCP clients such as Claude Desktop.

Frequently asked questions

Does Apple Books MCP work with DRM‑protected books?

No. Apple Books Store purchases are FairPlay‑protected and return a clear error. Only non‑DRM EPUBs (imported books, Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks) are supported for chapter content.

Does the server modify my Apple Books data by default?

No. All tools are read‑only by default. Writing to collections requires the `--enable-writes` flag and comes with guard rails: it refuses while Books is open, creates a WAL‑safe backup, validates the schema, and only touches user‑created collections.

Why do I see a macOS permission prompt on first use?

The server reads Apple Books’ private sandboxed container at `~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iBooksX/`. macOS treats this as data from another app and asks for your permission. The server runs either way, but without permission all tools return empty results.

Can I sync collection edits to other devices via iCloud?

If iCloud sync for collections is enabled, direct edits made with the `--enable-writes` flag may not propagate to other devices and can be reverted by a cloud re‑sync.