iwork_mcp

The iwork_mcp MCP server provides automated access to Apple iWork apps (Numbers, Pages, and Keynote) through Claude and other MCP clients. It exposes 113 tools organized by app that let you browse templates, create documents, manage sheets and tables, read and write cell values, set formulas, format content, and export to PDF, Excel, Word, or HTML. For example, you can generate a Numbers budget with multiple sheets, populate cells with data, apply formatting, and export a final workbook. You can also create Pages documents with formatted text and inserted images, or assemble Keynote presentations with multiple slides, layouts, and notes all driven from natural-language prompts or scripted calls. Creator Studio integration (when available) adds AI-assisted capabilities like Magic Fill and image enhancements.

Prerequisites:

• macOS 13 Ventura or later ( Sonoma/14.x recommended)
• Numbers, Pages, and Keynote 14.0+ installed
• Node.js 18+ (install from https://nodejs.org)
• macOS Automation permissions may be prompted on first use

Installation steps:

1. Ensure Node.js is installed on your Mac

brew install node

2. Install the MCP server via npx (one-line install):

npx iwork-mcp install

3. Restart Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Codex to pick up the new MCP server, then start using it with:

npx iwork-mcp

4. Connect your MCP client (Claude, Codex, etc.) to the iwork_mcp server endpoint as needed.

Notes:

• After installation, you may need to grant macOS Automation permission for iWork apps when prompted.
• If you’re embedding in a Claude workflow, you can call the tools by the provided names (e.g., numbers_create_document, pages_list_templates, keynotes_create_presentation, etc.).

Tips and known considerations:

• iWork Creator Studio is fully supported (Creator Studio 8 AI tools available with Creator Studio 15.1+). Some export/save-as limitations may apply when Creator Studio features are used.
• Ensure your macOS user has Automation permissions enabled for Numbers, Pages, and Keynote.
• The MCP server is designed to run locally on macOS to automate real apps; latency will depend on app responsiveness and document sizes.
• If you encounter connection issues, verify that the MCP server process is running (npx iwork-mcp) and that your MCP client is pointed at the correct endpoint.
• The npm package name to install/update is iwork-mcp.