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apktool-mcp-server for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

Claude Desktop: apktool-mcp-server exposes APK decoding, inspection, editing, and rebuilding through MCP.

What you can do with apktool-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

Pick it for an Apktool-backed MCP workflow spanning manifest review, smali edits, and APK rebuilding.

  • Review Android manifests and declared permissions
  • Inspect and search smali code during authorized assessments

Before you start: apktool-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

  • Python 3.10 or later
  • uv
  • Apktool installed and available in the environment
  • A local project checkout or release download

Uses the Cherry Studio stdio example. Replace the project-directory placeholder. The README offers uv pip install httpx fastmcp if dependencies need manual installation.

apktool-mcp-server Claude Desktop configuration

  1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

    For apktool-mcp-server, open macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Merge under mcpServers via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

  2. Add apktool-mcp-server to Claude Desktop

    Use the apktool-mcp-server entry below in mcpServers. Keep apktool-mcp-server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Desktop entries.

  3. Check apktool-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

    apktool-mcp-server: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

Config file · macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apktool-mcp-server": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "path/to/apktool-mcp-server",
        "run",
        "apktool_mcp_server.py"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

apktool-mcp-server tools available to Claude Desktop

apktool-mcp-server's stored tool list documents 13 tools; compare it with Claude Desktop's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

build_apk

When Claude Desktop requests build_apk from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Build an APK from a decoded Apktool project.

get_manifest

When Claude Desktop requests get_manifest from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Read the decoded Android manifest.

get_apktool_yml

When Claude Desktop requests get_apktool_yml from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Inspect Apktool project metadata.

list_smali_directories

When Claude Desktop requests list_smali_directories from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Enumerate smali directories in a decoded project.

list_smali_files

When Claude Desktop requests list_smali_files from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

List smali files with an optional package-prefix filter.

get_smali_file

When Claude Desktop requests get_smali_file from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Read smali code for a named class.

modify_smali_file

When Claude Desktop requests modify_smali_file from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Replace the contents of a selected smali file.

list_resources

When Claude Desktop requests list_resources from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

get_resource_file

When Claude Desktop requests get_resource_file from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

modify_resource_file

When Claude Desktop requests modify_resource_file from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

search_in_file

When Claude Desktop requests search_in_file from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

clean_project

When Claude Desktop requests clean_project from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

decode_apk

When Claude Desktop requests decode_apk from apktool-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

apktool-mcp-server: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting apktool-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

  • Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for apktool-mcp-server. If uv is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
  • apktool-mcp-server uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
  • Known limitation: Requires a separately installed Apktool environment
  • Known limitation: Client testing is reported for Claude Desktop, with others pending
  • Known limitation: Usage is restricted to authorized analysis
  • General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

apktool-mcp-server — details. Claude Desktop guide

Frequently asked questions

Claude Desktop loads apktool-mcp-server from claude_desktop_config.json: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/ on macOS, or %APPDATA%\Claude\ on Windows. Open it via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

Claude Desktop's apktool-mcp-server example uses stdio.

apktool-mcp-server's Claude Desktop configuration invokes uv.

apktool-mcp-server's stored list contains 13 tools, including build_apk, get_manifest, get_apktool_yml. Compare those names with Claude Desktop's connected tool list; the stored list is not a live check.

Yes. build_apk builds from a decoded Apktool project, and clean_project prepares the project for rebuilding.

Yes. It lists directories and files, retrieves class code, and permits smali file changes.