Use Apple Notes inside Cursor

Before you start

Requirements

Step-by-step

Install the macOS app

The easiest path for end users is the Apple Notes Ideas.app — a double-click setup guide that configures Cursor and Apple Notes automatically.

Option A — Download the app (recommended)

1. Download Apple Notes Ideas.app from the GitHub Releases page.
2. Drag the app to Applications.
3. Double-click to launch the setup guide.
4. Follow the on-screen steps (see Setup wizard below).

Option B — Build from source

git clone https://github.com/adamroszyk/apple-notes-ideas-mcp.git
cd apple-notes-ideas-mcp
npm install
npm run build:macos-app
cp -R "build/Apple Notes Ideas.app" /Applications/
open "/Applications/Apple Notes Ideas.app"

Option C — npm (developers)

npx apple-notes-ideas-mcp setup --gui   # native macOS dialogs
npx apple-notes-ideas-mcp setup           # terminal wizard

Guided onboarding

Setup wizard walkthrough

When you open the app (or run setup --gui), a native macOS guide walks you through every step. Here is exactly what to expect:

1. 1

   Welcome screen

   Click Continue to start. The wizard explains that it will:

   • Verify Node.js and Cursor
   • Connect to Apple Notes
   • Configure Cursor MCP automatically
   • Create your Apple Notes workspace folder

   

   Illustrative mockup of the setup welcome dialog.

2. 2

   Grant Apple Notes permission

   macOS shows an Automation prompt. Click OK and allow this app (or Cursor) to control Notes.

   • If you miss the prompt: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation
   • Enable Notes for Apple Notes Ideas or Cursor
   • Click Retry in the setup wizard

   

   Illustrative mockup of Automation permissions in System Settings.

3. 3

   Cursor MCP auto-configuration

   The wizard merges an entry into ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "apple-notes-ideas": {
         "type": "stdio",
         "command": "/Applications/Apple Notes Ideas.app/Contents/MacOS/mcp-server",
         "args": []
       }
     }
   }

   It also creates the Apple Notes root folder in Notes.app.

4. 4

   First idea (optional)

   Name your first project folder — or skip and create ideas later in Cursor.

5. 5

   Setup complete

   The wizard saves a first-session prompt to:

   ~/Library/Application Support/Apple Notes Ideas/first-session-prompt.txt

   Click Open Cursor to launch Cursor and continue below.

How notes are organized

Folder structure in Apple Notes

Every idea gets its own folder. Each note lives in its own subfolder:

Apple Notes/                          ← root folder
├── My Startup Idea/                  ← one subfolder per idea
│   ├── NextSteps.md/                 ← orchestrator plan
│   │   └── NextSteps.md
│   ├── Research/
│   │   └── Research
│   └── Loops/                        ← loop agent workspace
│       └── weekly-validation/
│           ├── Loop Definition.md/
│           └── Loop Run 2025-06-24/

After setup

Use in Cursor

1. Restart Cursor and enable MCP

1. Quit Cursor completely (Cmd+Q) and reopen it.
2. Open Cursor Settings → MCP (or Tools & MCP).
3. Find apple-notes-ideas and ensure it is enabled (green toggle).
4. If it shows an error, re-run the setup app and restart Cursor again.

Illustrative mockup of Cursor MCP settings.

2. Paste the first-session prompt

Open the saved prompt file or copy this into a new Cursor chat:

You have the Apple Notes Ideas MCP connected.

1. Call get_workspace_info and explain the folder structure to me.
2. Call setup_root_folder to create the "Apple Notes" root.
3. Ask me what idea I want to capture, then create_idea with that name.
4. Call generate_next_steps with a vision sketch based on our conversation.
5. Read NextSteps.md back to me and ask every open clarifying question one at a time.
6. Update the plan as I answer until status can move from Draft to Ready.
7. When I say "create a loop", use create_loop and explain manual vs scheduled runs.

3. Verify connection

Ask Cursor in chat:

Call get_setup_status and confirm everything is configured.

4. Start working with your ideas

Illustrative mockup of Cursor calling MCP tools for your Notes workspace.

Cursor can now:

• List and search your ideas in Apple Notes
• Create ideas and notes with structured folders
• Generate NextSteps.md — an orchestrator plan with clarifying questions
• Run loops — iterative exploration cycles (manual or scheduled)

AI agents

How the orchestrator & loop agents work

MCP tools available in Cursor

Help

Troubleshooting

“Automation permission denied”

MCP server not showing in Cursor

• Confirm ~/.cursor/mcp.json contains apple-notes-ideas
• Restart Cursor completely (Cmd+Q)
• Re-run: apple-notes-ideas-mcp setup --force --gui

Node.js not found

• Install from nodejs.org or brew install node
• Re-open the setup app

Re-run setup anytime

open "/Applications/Apple Notes Ideas.app"
# or
npx apple-notes-ideas-mcp setup --gui --force

Ready to connect Notes and Cursor?

Download the app, run the 2-minute setup guide, and start capturing ideas with AI orchestration.