mcpock
Frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers. For step-by-step help, see the guide.
What is MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard way for an AI agent to connect to small programs called MCP servers that give it extra tools, like reading files, searching the web, or calling an API. Agents such as Claude Code, Cursor and Codex use MCP servers to do things beyond just writing text.
What is an MCP server?
An MCP server is a small program, often just a command your agent runs, that speaks the MCP protocol and offers a list of tools. Your agent's config file tells it which command to run (or which address to call) for each server it should have available.
Does mcpock send my data anywhere?
No. mcpock reads your agent config files on your own Mac, starts each server the way your agent would, and keeps the results in a status file on your Mac. It has no accounts and no analytics. The only network connections it makes are to the MCP servers already listed in your own configs, and to mcpock.com to check for updates, which you can turn off.
Which agents does mcpock work with?
mcpock reads the config files of about 15 agents directly by name, including Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Continue, VS Code, Codex, Grok, Goose, Hermes, Kimi Code, MiniMax, OpenCode and aka. It also scans the usual config folders for any other agent that writes a standard MCP format, so many more work with no code change needed. About 30 agents have their own logo in the app; others show two letters. See the full list in the guide.
Why does a server say "needs sign-in"?
The server answered mcpock's check with an HTTP 401 or 403, which means it needs you to authenticate before it will answer. Sign in through your agent, or add the right token or header to the config. mcpock never signs in on your behalf, which is why this state shows as an amber ring rather than a red "broken" mark.
Is mcpock on the Mac App Store?
No. The App Store's sandbox would stop mcpock from starting your MCP servers as separate processes and from reading other apps' config files in your home folder, both of which are exactly what mcpock has to do. So it ships as a signed, notarized download instead, which is fully allowed by macOS and does not require disabling Gatekeeper.
Is mcpock free?
mcpock is free. There are no accounts, subscriptions or in-app purchases; you download the app and run it.
Does mcpock change my agents' config files?
No, mcpock only reads config files, never edits, moves or rewrites them. The one exception is optional: if you ask an agent to add mcpock's own connect snippet to its own config (Settings > Connect), the agent makes that edit itself, the same as it would for any other server you asked it to add.
What does "set up differently" mean?
It means the same server name launches a different command, script or address in one agent than in the others, often an old path left behind after an update. Click Compare on the card to see each agent's version side by side. If the difference is intended, for example each agent has its own key, click Mark as intended so mcpock stops flagging it while it keeps checking for real errors.
Does mcpock start servers I don't want running?
It only starts a server to run the same handshake your agent would: initialize, ask for the tool list, then stop the process and all its child processes. Paused servers are never started. If starting a server has a side effect you don't want, such as opening a login page, right-click it and choose Pause.
What are the usage counts, and does mcpock read my chats?
The usage count next to a server is how many times an agent called it in the last 7 days, 30 days or all time. mcpock reads this from the agent's own history files on your Mac, but keeps only the agent name, the server name and the day, never a message, an argument or a result. Turn it off in Settings > General > Usage.
Can my agent change anything through mcpock's MCP helper?
No. mcpock-mcp, the small MCP server that ships inside mcpock, only reads the status file mcpock writes after each check. It offers three read-only tools (mcpock_status, mcpock_problems, mcpock_server) and cannot start a server, change a setting or edit a config.
Does mcpock work on Intel Macs?
No. mcpock needs macOS 26 or later on Apple Silicon. The Glass theme's see-through panel additionally needs macOS 27.
Is mcpock open source?
Yes, mcpock is MIT licensed. Its source, architecture notes and release history are on GitHub.