DisplayBuddy MCP Server
An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that lets AI agents control Mac monitors via DisplayBuddy — adjust brightness, contrast, volume, input source, apply presets, sync displays, and more.
Works with Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and any MCP-compatible client.
Prerequisites
- macOS with DisplayBuddy installed and running
- DisplayBuddy CLI installed: open DisplayBuddy > Settings > General > Install CLI Tool
- Node.js 18+
Installation
Claude Desktop
Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"displaybuddy": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "displaybuddy-mcp"]
}
}
}
Cursor
Add to your MCP settings:
{
"mcpServers": {
"displaybuddy": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "displaybuddy-mcp"]
}
}
}
Smithery
npx -y @smithery/cli install displaybuddy-mcp --client claude
Available Tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
displaybuddy_status | Quick overview of all displays (call this first) |
displaybuddy_list | Full display details including UUID, type, capabilities |
displaybuddy_get | Get properties of a specific display |
displaybuddy_set | Set brightness, contrast, volume, input, rotation |
displaybuddy_preset_list | List saved presets |
displaybuddy_preset_activate | Activate a preset (with optional delay) |
displaybuddy_schedule_list | List automation schedules |
displaybuddy_schedule_toggle | Enable or disable a schedule |
displaybuddy_sync | Check/enable/disable multi-display sync |
Example Prompts
Once connected, you can ask your AI assistant things like:
- "Dim all my monitors to 30%"
- "What displays are connected?"
- "Switch my Dell monitor to HDMI"
- "Activate my Night Mode preset"
- "Sync all displays to my main monitor"
- "Turn up the brightness on my external display"
- "Set up my coding environment — brightness 70, contrast 60"
How It Works
The MCP server wraps the displaybuddy CLI, which communicates with the running DisplayBuddy app via URL scheme. All operations are local — no data leaves your machine.
AI Agent → MCP Server → displaybuddy CLI → DisplayBuddy App → Your Monitors
Development
npm install
npm run build
# Test with MCP Inspector
npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/inspector node ./build/index.js
License
MIT