Askew — iPhone, iPad and Mac via Shortcuts MCP server

askew-mcp

Let any AI agent use your iPhone. askew-mcp is the local connector for Askew: an MCP server (stdio) that lets Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex or any MCP client run Shortcuts on your iPhone, send you notifications, and read what your phone sends back. The iPhone can stay locked. The 0.2 series adds explicit device selection and assigned local Mac targets. Device job inputs, results and inbox items are sealed with your key before reaching the relay. Recipe uploads have a separate plaintext boundary described below.

iPhone relay and local macOS targets; physical iPad background validation is pending. No Android. The Askew app is currently in waitlist at https://askew.my

Full setup guide: English · 한국어 · 中文 · 日本語

1. Get a connector key

In the Askew app on your iPhone: Settings → Register device → allow notifications → New connector. Copy the key (akc_…). It is shown once.

2. Add the connector to your agent

Claude Code

claude mcp add askew -s user -e ASKEW_CONNECTOR_KEY=akc_XXXX -- npx -y askew-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / any MCP client (claudedesktopconfig.json, .cursor/mcp.json, …)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "askew": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "askew-mcp"],
      "env": { "ASKEW_CONNECTOR_KEY": "akc_XXXX" }
    }
  }
}

Codex CLI (~/.codex/config.toml)

[mcp_servers.askew]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "askew-mcp"]
env = { ASKEW_CONNECTOR_KEY = "akc_XXXX" }

The first authenticated tool call creates ~/.askew/connector.key (X25519 private key, mode 0600), registers the public key with the relay and prints a fingerprint as six words on stderr, like cider grove desert fever city burger. Open the app's connector screen and check that the same six words are there, then tap 확인함 / Verified. That one check rules out a swapped relay. Until you do it the app shows the connector as unverified, and your agent is told to ask you for it.

npx -y askew-mcp fingerprint   # print this computer's six fingerprint words

3. Install the dispatcher on the phone

In the app's Presets tab, install the Askew dispatcher (share sheet → Shortcuts → Add), open it and turn on the Automation toggle at the top. With the phone unlocked, run one test push from Settings → Checkup and tap Always Allow. One toggle, one allow, once. Then add recipes (Calendar, Reminders, Notes, …) the same way and ask your agent:

"Add dentist Thursday 3pm to my phone calendar."

Choose a device or this Mac

Call askewlistroutes and select one enabled targets entry. Omitting target uses the route's default device; there is no broadcast. The phone manages target assignments. To run an already installed Shortcut on this Mac, use:

{"routeId":"route-id-from-list","target":{"kind":"connector","id":"this-connector-id"},"input":{"text":"hello"}}

Use that route's actual input contract. The connector ID must match the one printed by askewlistroutes; this process cannot execute on another Mac. The target and route must both be enabled. Local execution requires macOS, an authenticated relay connection to read assignments and the emergency-stop snapshot, and executionMode: "auto". A stopped account or a server missing the stop-state field blocks local execution. Stop is checked before dispatch; it cannot undo effects of an already running Shortcut.

Shortened. The full README is on GitHub.