sidetap: Open-Sourcing MCP Tools to Let Claude Code Control Your iPhone
SIGH_I_CALL · reddit · 2026-08-09
A developer released sidetap, an open-source Python harness that allows AI agents like Claude Code to control a real iPhone via native MCP tools.
- Core Features: Connected via USB from a Windows PC, the agent reads the real UI element tree for precise tapping, swiping, and texting (e.g., sendmessage("Mom", "on my way")). It includes a live browser viewer at 34fps and a big red STOP button.
- Technical Breakthrough: The project solves a major pain point in non-jailbroken environments—WebDriverAgent failing to start with a free Apple ID. The creator found that Sideloadly leaves the nested .xctest runner unsigned. The fix grabs the fleeting provisioning profile from the temp folder and re-signs everything locally using go-ios.
- Limitation: Free Apple ID signatures expire every 7 days, so the tool includes a one-command re-signing feature and a countdown doctor check.
Related event: sidetap: Open-Source Tool Enables AI to Control iPhones from Windows(2 posts)→
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