Install Annotate MCP

Quick install

Paste this prompt into your agent (Cursor, Claude, Codex, etc.). It will follow the install guide and wire up local Annotate MCP for you.

Install Annotate MCP for my current agent.

Follow the instructions at: https://xannotate.com/mcp/install.md

Annotate MCP (annotate-session) is a local stdio MCP server. It ships with the Annotate Mac app and runs together with it — launch Annotate at least once so the MCP bundle exists. After install, reload MCP and confirm tools like list_sessions or get_timeline work.

Guide the agent uses: https://xannotate.com/mcp/install.md

Prerequisites

1. Annotate for Mac is installed.
2. Annotate has been launched at least once — the local MCP bundle is created with the app and runs together with it.
3. Node.js is on your PATH (node).

Expand ~ to an absolute path in config files. If Annotate gave you an install prompt with a path, use that path.

Shared JSON config

Use this for Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and other JSON mcpServers clients. Omit any env block.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "annotate-session": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/Annotate/mcp/annotate-session/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Cursor

1. Open or create ~/.cursor/mcp.json.
2. Merge the shared mcpServers.annotate-session entry below.
3. Reload MCP in Cursor (or restart Cursor).
4. Confirm Annotate tools work — try list_sessions or get_timeline.

Claude Desktop

1. Open ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.
2. Merge the same mcpServers.annotate-session entry (no env block).
3. Fully quit and relaunch Claude Desktop.
4. Confirm Annotate tools are available.

Claude Code

1. Prefer the CLI (user scope, all projects).
2. Or merge the shared JSON into ~/.claude.json under top-level mcpServers, then reload MCP.

claude mcp add --scope user annotate-session -- node /ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/Annotate/mcp/annotate-session/index.js

Codex

1. Edit ~/.codex/config.toml (create if needed).
2. Add the TOML block below. The key must be mcp_servers (underscore).
3. Start a Codex session and confirm tools with /mcp.

[mcp_servers.annotate-session]
command = "node"
args = ["/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/Annotate/mcp/annotate-session/index.js"]

After install

Annotate MCP is required for agents to understand a recording. When you share a Session id, the agent should call get_timeline first, then use search / frames / transcript tools as needed.

Prefer the machine-readable guide at /mcp/install.md when an agent is installing for you.