# Android Bridge
Let an MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.) on your laptop read and modify settings on a paired Android device over your local network. No cloud, no USB required. The Android app runs an embedded HTTP server secured with HMAC-SHA256, and the laptop discovers the device via mDNS.
## How It Works
The MCP server on your laptop discovers the Android device via mDNS broadcast. After a one-time pairing (shared HMAC secret), every MCP tool call is signed with HMAC-SHA256 and sent over HTTP to the embedded Ktor server on the device. The Android app validates the signature and applies the requested settings change — returning the result in under 50 ms.
Claude Desktop ──stdio──▶ MCP Server (Node.js)
└── mDNS discovery
└── HTTP + HMAC-SHA256 ──▶ Android App (Ktor :8765)
└─ Settings.System
└─ Settings.Secure
└─ Settings.Global## Screenshots
❯ list_settings wifi_on true bluetooth_on false screen_brightness 128 volume_ring 5 airplane_mode false auto_rotate true do_not_disturb false 7 settings · device: Pixel 7 Pro · 192.168.1.42:8765
❯ set_setting name=screen_brightness value=200 ✓ Setting applied screen_brightness: 128 → 200 device: Pixel 7 Pro latency: 21 ms ❯ set_setting name=bluetooth_on value=true ✓ Setting applied bluetooth_on: false → true latency: 18 ms
## Features
- +No cloud, no USB — pure local network
- +HMAC-SHA256 secured HTTP API
- +mDNS device discovery
- +Settings.System / Secure / Global access
- +Works with Claude Desktop, Cursor, and any MCP client
## vs. The Field
| Feature | Android Bridge | ADB (CLI) | Scrcpy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless, no USB | ✓ | partial | ✓ |
| MCP / Claude integration | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Settings API (read + write) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI-driven automation | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero developer toolchain | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
## Installation
Build and sideload the Android app
Requires Android Studio and a device running API 26+.
cd android ./gradlew installDebug
Install the MCP server
Runs on your laptop alongside Claude. No build step required.
npx -y @web4w3/install android-bridge
Pair the device
Run the pair command — a QR code appears in the Android app. Scan it once to exchange the shared secret.
npx @web4w3/install android-bridge pair
Add to Claude config
Register the MCP server in your Claude Desktop or Claude Code settings.
{
"mcpServers": {
"android-bridge": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@web4w3/install", "android-bridge"]
}
}
}