Free guide · Oct 5, 2026
mobile-mcp: let Claude Code drive a real phone
A step-by-step setup guide with requirements, checks and common problems.
The short version
mobile-mcp is a free, open source MCP server from Mobile Next. Once it's connected, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and other agents can open apps, tap, swipe, type and read the screen on an iPhone or Android phone, a simulator or an emulator. It reads the app's accessibility tree first, so most steps don't need screenshots at all.
•What you need: Node.js 20 or newer, plus Xcode for iOS (Mac only) or Android Platform Tools for Android (Mac, Windows or Linux). No API key or account.
•What you get: your coding agent can test your app, fill forms and walk through multi-step flows on a phone while you watch.
What's in the full guide
- 01What runs where
- 02Free vs paid
- 03Step 1: Check the prerequisites
- 04Step 2: Start a simulator or emulator
- 05Step 3: Add mobile-mcp to your agent
- 06Step 4: Check it can see your device
- 07Step 5: Run your first tap-through task
- 08Step 6: Connect a real phone
- 09Honest limits
- 10Where to go next