signal-mcp

signal-mcp is a layer on top of signal-cli that adds everything it's missing: persistent message history, full-text search, a usable conversation view, contact name resolution, and an MCP server so Claude can read, search, and act on your Signal messages. 100% local — no cloud, no third-party services.

v1.29.0 — New sync_desktop / sync-desktop: incremental sync from Signal Desktop — fast on repeat calls, imports only new messages since the last run. Plus: incoming edits update the stored copy in-place, fixes for 500+ conversation crashes, improved store reliability.

What signal-cli is missing — and what signal-mcp adds

No history. signal-cli delivers a message and forgets it. signal-mcp stores every sent and received message — including messages sent from your phone — in a local SQLite database. It stays there. You can search it, browse it, export it, and ask Claude about it.

No search. signal-mcp adds an FTS5 full-text index. Find any message by keyword, filter by sender, page through results.

No conversation view. signal-cli has no concept of a thread. signal-mcp gives you paginated history per contact or group, unread counts, and last-message previews across all your chats.

Raw phone numbers everywhere. signal-mcp resolves +12025551234 → Anna Schmidt in all output.

Manual daemon management. signal-mcp auto-starts the daemon on first use, restarts it if it crashes, and can install a background service (macOS LaunchAgent or Linux systemd) that captures every incoming message — even when you're not at your computer.

CLI and MCP: use whichever fits the task

The CLI and MCP server share the same store and daemon. You don't have to choose one:

Task	How
Quick send from terminal or a cron job	signal-mcp send +49... "done"
Set up background message capture (once)	signal-mcp install-service
Import full history from Signal Desktop (once)	signal-mcp import-desktop
Export a conversation to CSV	signal-mcp export --recipient +49... --format csv
Check unread messages and conversations	signal-mcp conversations
"What did I miss while I was offline?"	Claude via MCP
"Find every message mentioning the invoice"	Claude via MCP
"Summarize my week with Marco and draft a reply"	Claude via MCP
"Who in my contacts hasn't messaged me in a month?"	Claude via MCP
"Send the team: standup in 5 minutes"	Claude via MCP or CLI

Features

• Persistent SQLite store — every message saved locally, survives restarts
• FTS5 full-text search — instant search across entire history
• Signal Desktop import — migrate your complete history in one command (macOS/Linux/Windows)
• Background service — captures messages automatically, even when Claude isn't running
• Export — JSON or CSV with recipient and date filters
• Contact name resolution — phone numbers resolved to names everywhere
• 72 MCP tools — complete signal-cli coverage (see coverage matrix)
• Incoming edit handling — when contacts edit their messages, the stored copy updates in-place
• Full CLI — all the above without Claude, from your terminal
• 100% local — your data never leaves your machine

Setup

Step 1 — Install signal-cli

signal-mcp is a front-end for signal-cli, which handles the Signal protocol.

macOS

brew install signal-cli

Linux Download the latest release from signal-cli releases, extract it, and put the signal-cli binary on your $PATH.

Step 2 — Link your Signal account

signal-cli needs to be linked to your existing Signal account (the same way you'd add a linked device in Signal mobile).

signal-cli link --name "MyMac"

This prints a QR code in your terminal. On your phone:

Signal → Settings → Linked Devices → + → scan the QR code

Once scanned, signal-cli is linked and ready.

Step 3 — Install signal-mcp

With uv (recommended):

uv tool install signal-mcp

With pip or pipx:

pip install signal-mcp
# or
pipx install signal-mcp

From source:

git clone https://github.com/googlarz/signal-mcp
cd signal-mcp
uv tool install .

Verify it works:

signal-mcp status
# → Account : +1234567890
# → Daemon  : stopped (port 7583)

Step 4 — Connect to Claude Code

claude mcp add signal -- signal-mcp serve

Restart Claude Code. Signal tools appear automatically — ask Claude "check my Signal messages" to confirm.

<details> <summary>Manual config alternatives</summary>

Claude Code — global (~/.claude.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "signal": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["signal-mcp", "serve"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "signal": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["signal-mcp", "serve"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop uses a restricted PATH — uvx resolves the tool without needing signal-mcp on your shell's PATH.

Per-project (.mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "signal": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["run", "--directory", "/path/to/signal-mcp", "signal-mcp", "serve"]
    }
  }
}

</details>

Step 5 — (Optional) Import Signal Desktop history

If you use Signal Desktop on macOS, import your full message history in one command:

brew install sqlcipher       # required for decryption
signal-mcp import-desktop    # macOS will prompt for Keychain access — click Allow

Step 6 — (Optional) Enable background message capture

signal-cli only delivers messages when polled. Install the background service so nothing is missed:

signal-mcp install-service   # starts on login, works on macOS and Linux

MCP Tools

Messaging

Tool	Description
send_message	Send a text message to a contact. Supports quoted replies (quote_author, quote_timestamp).
send_group_message	Send a text message to a group. Supports quoted replies and @mentions.
send_attachment	Send a file or image to a contact. Supports captions and view-once.
send_group_attachment	Send a file or image to a group. Supports captions and view-once.
send_note_to_self	Save a note to yourself (Signal's saved messages).
receive_messages	Poll for new incoming messages and delivery receipts.
get_unread	Get messages not yet marked as read from local store.
edit_message	Edit a previously sent message (DM or group). Updates local store. Incoming edits from contacts also update the stored copy in-place.
delete_message	Remote-delete (unsend) a sent DM.
delete_group_message	Remote-delete a sent group message.
react_to_message	React to a message with an emoji (DM or group). Set remove=true to unreact.
pin_message	Pin a message in a DM or group conversation.
unpin_message	Unpin a message in a DM or group conversation.
admin_delete_message	Group admin: delete any message in a group you administer.
set_typing	Send a typing indicator to a contact.
send_read_receipt	Mark messages as read. Also updates local store.
send_sticker	Send a sticker to a contact.
send_group_sticker	Send a sticker to a group.

Configuration

Tool	Description
get_configuration	Read current account settings (read receipts, typing indicators, link previews).
update_configuration	Toggle read receipts, typing indicators, link previews, or sealed sender indicators.

Sticker Packs

Tool	Description
list_sticker_packs	List all installed sticker packs with pack_id and sticker IDs for send_sticker.
add_sticker_pack	Install a sticker pack from a signal.art URL.
get_sticker	Retrieve a single sticker image as base64.
upload_sticker_pack	Upload and publish a sticker pack from a local manifest.json or zip. Returns the signal.art URL.

Contacts

Tool	Description
list_contacts	All contacts with names and numbers. Supports optional search filter.
get_profile	Get profile info for a contact.
update_contact	Set a local display name for a contact.
block_contact	Block a contact.
unblock_contact	Unblock a contact.
remove_contact	Remove a contact from the local list.
update_profile	Update your own name, about text, or avatar.
get_own_number	Get the Signal number this server is running as.

Groups

Tool	Description
list_groups	All groups with members and metadata.
create_group	Create a new Signal group.
join_group	Join a group via invite link.
update_group	Rename, add/remove members, promote/demote admins, set expiry timer.
leave_group	Leave a group.

History & Search

Tool	Description
list_conversations	All conversations ordered by most recent message.
get_conversation	Message history with a contact or group. Supports since, limit, and offset for pagination.
search_messages	Full-text search (FTS5) across all stored messages. Supports sender, limit, and offset.
store_stats	Total message count, oldest and newest message dates.
mark_as_unread	Mark one or more stored messages as unread.
get_user_status	Check whether phone numbers are registered Signal users.
send_sync_request	Request sync of messages/contacts/groups from your primary device.
send_contacts_sync	Push your contacts list to all linked devices.
send_message_request_response	Accept or decline a message request from an unknown sender.

Security & Devices

Tool	Description
list_identities	List identity keys and trust levels (safety numbers).
trust_identity	Trust a contact's identity key after verifying their safety number.
list_devices	List all devices linked to your account.
add_device	Link a new device using a device link URI.
remove_device	Unlink a device by ID.
update_device	Rename a linked device.
list_accounts	List all Signal accounts configured in signal-cli on this machine.
update_account	Update account settings: device name, discoverability, number sharing, username.
set_pin	Set the Signal registration lock PIN.
remove_pin	Remove the Signal registration lock PIN.
get_avatar	Retrieve the avatar image for a contact or group as base64.

Polls

Tool	Description
create_poll	Create a poll in a group conversation.
vote_poll	Cast a vote on an existing poll.
terminate_poll	End a poll and prevent further votes.

Disappearing Messages

Tool	Description
set_expiration_timer	Set or disable disappearing messages for any DM or group.

Data & Import

Tool	Description
import_desktop	One-time full import of all historical messages from Signal Desktop. Requires sqlcipher.
sync_desktop	Incremental sync from Signal Desktop — imports only messages newer than the last sync. Fast on repeat calls. First call behaves like import_desktop.
list_attachments	List all locally downloaded attachments (photos, files received via Signal).
get_attachment	Get details about a specific downloaded attachment by filename.
clear_local_store	Delete ALL locally stored messages (requires confirm: true). Does not unsend from Signal.
delete_local_messages	Delete locally stored messages for one contact or group.
export_messages	Export stored messages as JSON or CSV. Supports recipient and since filters.

CLI Usage

# Status & daemon
signal-mcp status                          # account + daemon info
signal-mcp daemon                          # start daemon in foreground
signal-mcp stop                            # stop the daemon

# Send & receive
signal-mcp send +1234567890 "Hello!"
signal-mcp send-group <group_id> "Hey!"
signal-mcp note "Remember to buy milk"     # save a note to yourself
signal-mcp receive                         # poll once
signal-mcp receive --watch                 # keep watching (saves to store)

# Edit
signal-mcp edit +1234567890 <timestamp> "corrected text"
signal-mcp edit <group_id> <timestamp> "corrected text"

# Pin / unpin / admin-delete messages
signal-mcp pin +1234567890 <timestamp> +1234567890
signal-mcp unpin +1234567890 <timestamp> +1234567890
signal-mcp admin-delete <group_id> <timestamp> +1234567890

# Devices
signal-mcp update-device <device_id> "My Laptop"

# Contacts & groups
signal-mcp contacts
signal-mcp contacts --json
signal-mcp groups
signal-mcp conversations                   # list all chats with unread count + last message

# History & search
signal-mcp history +1234567890
signal-mcp history +1234567890 --limit 20
signal-mcp history +1234567890 --limit 20 --offset 20   # page 2
signal-mcp history +1234567890 --since 2024-01-01
signal-mcp search "keyword"
signal-mcp search "keyword" --sender +1234567890   # restrict to one contact
signal-mcp search "keyword" --limit 20
signal-mcp store-stats

# Export
signal-mcp export                                          # all messages as JSON to stdout
signal-mcp export messages.json                            # save to file
signal-mcp export messages.csv --format csv                # CSV format
signal-mcp export --recipient +1234567890 --format csv     # one conversation
signal-mcp export --since 2024-01-01                       # messages from date

# Signal Desktop import (macOS) — one-time full import
signal-mcp import-desktop
signal-mcp sync-desktop                    # incremental: only new messages since last sync

# Background service (macOS LaunchAgent or Linux systemd)
signal-mcp install-service    # auto-starts on login, captures all messages
signal-mcp uninstall-service

# MCP server (for Claude Code)
signal-mcp serve

Getting full message history

signal-cli only delivers new messages — it has no history API. Two ways to get history:

Going forward (captures everything from now on):

signal-mcp install-service   # background watcher, auto-starts on login

Retroactively (imports everything from Signal Desktop):

signal-mcp import-desktop    # macOS will prompt for Keychain access — click Allow

Run both for complete coverage.

Architecture

                    ┌─────────────────────────────────┐
                    │  signal-cli daemon  (:7583)      │
                    │  Signal protocol / libsignal     │
                    └──────────┬──────────────┬────────┘
                               │ sends/receives│
                    ┌──────────▼──────────┐   │ (when no service)
                    │  background service  │   │
                    │  LaunchAgent/systemd │   │
                    └──────────┬──────────┘   │
                               │ writes        │
                    ┌──────────▼──────────────▼────────┐
                    │  SQLite store                     │
                    │  ~/.local/share/signal-mcp/       │
                    │  messages.db  (FTS5 indexed)      │
                    └────────────────┬─────────────────┘
                                     │ reads/writes
                   ┌─────────────────┼─────────────────┐
                   │                 │                  │
        ┌──────────▼──────┐ ┌────────▼───────┐ ┌──────▼──────────┐
        │  Claude Code /  │ │  signal-mcp    │ │  signal-mcp CLI │
        │  Claude Desktop │ │  serve (MCP)   │ │  (terminal)     │
        │  (asks Claude)  │ └────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
        └─────────────────┘

How it works:

get_unread is the primary "check for new messages" tool. If the background service is installed, it reads straight from the store (the service keeps it up to date). Otherwise it polls signal-cli first (debounced to once every 30 seconds) and includes a _warning suggesting signal-mcp install-service. list_conversations is a pure store read — fast, no polling.

The daemon starts automatically on first use. Attachments are saved to ~/Downloads/signal-attachments/.

signal-cli Coverage

signal-mcp wraps the signal-cli JSON-RPC daemon. Here's what is and isn't covered:

Covered (72 tools)

signal-cli command	signal-mcp tool
send	send_message, send_group_message, send_note_to_self, send_attachment, send_group_attachment, send_sticker, send_group_sticker
receive	receive_messages (streaming), get_unread
listContacts	list_contacts
listGroups	list_groups
listDevices	list_devices
listIdentities	list_identities
listStickerPacks	list_sticker_packs
getUserStatus	get_user_status
getAttachment	get_attachment, list_attachments
getAvatar	get_avatar
block / unblock	block_contact / unblock_contact
removeContact	remove_contact
updateContact	update_contact
trust	trust_identity
joinGroup	join_group
quitGroup	leave_group
updateGroup	update_group, create_group
addDevice / removeDevice / updateDevice	add_device / remove_device / update_device
sendReaction	react_to_message
sendTyping	set_typing
sendReceipt	send_read_receipt
sendSyncRequest	send_sync_request
sendContacts	send_contacts_sync
sendAdminDelete	admin_delete_message
sendPinMessage / sendUnpinMessage	pin_message / unpin_message
sendPollCreate / sendPollVote / sendPollTerminate	create_poll / vote_poll / terminate_poll
sendMessageRequestResponse	send_message_request_response
remoteDelete	delete_message, delete_group_message
editMessage	edit_message
updateProfile	update_profile
updateConfiguration	update_configuration, get_configuration
addStickerPack	add_sticker_pack
getSticker	get_sticker
uploadStickerPack	upload_sticker_pack
listAccounts	list_accounts
updateAccount	update_account
setPin / removePin	set_pin / remove_pin
startChangeNumber / finishChangeNumber	start_change_number / finish_change_number
submitRateLimitChallenge	submit_rate_limit_challenge

Plus tools with no direct signal-cli equivalent: get_conversation, search_messages, list_conversations, store_stats, import_desktop, sync_desktop, export_messages, mark_as_unread, clear_local_store, delete_local_messages, prune_store.

Not covered

These commands are deliberately excluded — they are not feasible to implement as MCP tools:

signal-cli command	Why
acceptCall / hangupCall / rejectCall / startCall / listCalls	Voice/video calls require WebRTC and an active media stack — not feasible via MCP
register / verify / link / unregister	One-time account setup; must be done before installing signal-mcp
deleteLocalAccountData	Irreversibly destroys all local Signal data; too destructive to expose
sendPaymentNotification	MobileCoin payments (requires a funded wallet; out of scope)

Development

git clone https://github.com/googlarz/signal-mcp
cd signal-mcp
uv sync --dev
uv run pytest
uv run pytest --cov --cov-report=term-missing

573 tests, 100% line coverage across all modules. All tests are fully mocked — no signal-cli installation or Signal account required to run them.

See CONTRIBUTING.md for how to add new tools.

License

MIT — see LICENSE.