MCP: Control FlashDesk from your AI tools
FlashDesk implements MCP (Model Context Protocol), an open standard for connecting AI tools to external applications. AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and Windsurf can view the screen, control the mouse and keyboard, transfer files, and run SSH commands on a remote device through natural language.
Contents
Overview
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI tools call into external applications directly, without custom scripting or a dedicated integration. Any MCP-compatible AI tool running on the same PC as FlashDesk can register FlashDesk as a local MCP server and use it right away.
Basic usage
Enable MCP in FlashDesk settings
On the device your AI tool runs on, turn on external AI tool access in FlashDesk settings. It is off by default.
Register FlashDesk as an MCP server
In your AI tool's own MCP settings, point it at the FlashDesk executable with the server flag. Each AI tool has its own place to register local MCP servers — see the tool's own MCP documentation for the exact steps.
Ask your AI tool to connect
Tell the AI tool which saved device to connect to. The connection goes through the normal approval flow on the remote device.
Work through natural language
Once connected, describe what you want done. The AI tool chooses the right actions — taking a screenshot, clicking, typing, transferring a file, or running a command.
What you can do
- List saved connections and check connection status.
- Get a live screenshot of the remote screen.
- Move the mouse, click, scroll, and type on the remote device.
- Read and set the clipboard.
- List, upload, and download files and folders.
- Run SSH commands on the remote device.
- Start, stop, and check the status of screen recording.
Supported AI tools
FlashDesk works with any MCP-compatible AI tool, including:
- Claude Desktop and Claude Code
- ChatGPT desktop app and Codex CLI
- Cursor
- Windsurf
- VS Code with GitHub Copilot Chat
Each tool has its own place to register a local MCP server — typically a settings file or a CLI command. Web-only AI chat interfaces generally support remote MCP servers only, not a local one like FlashDesk's; use the corresponding desktop app or CLI instead.
How it works
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
--mcp-server |
The flag that starts FlashDesk as a local MCP server. This process only bridges requests to FlashDesk; it never becomes a Host or a Viewer by itself. |
| Local only | The MCP server communicates over local standard input/output. It is never exposed to the network. |
Operational notes
- MCP support is off by default and must be enabled on the device the AI tool runs on.
- The remote screen window is shown normally during an MCP-driven session, the same as a normal connection.
- File transfer and SSH command execution performed through MCP are not confirmed individually. Consider what you want to allow an AI tool to do before enabling MCP.
- SSH commands run through MCP require the destination device's SSH key to already be saved on the device the AI tool runs on.