desktop
Desktop app management: launch (Gradle/bundle/attach), stop, windows, focus, resize, clipboard, performance, monitors, get_target_pid
This record as markdown: /tools/alexgladkov-claude-in-mobile/desktop.md
What desktop does on Claude Mobile
AI agents invoke desktop to trigger actions in Claude Mobile. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.
Why desktop is rated High
This tool performs multiple active operations on desktop applications: launching apps via Gradle/bundle/attach, stopping processes, manipulating windows (focus, resize), accessing clipboard data, and retrieving process IDs. These are external system operations with side effects including process execution, window management, and clipboard access.
From the tool's definition launch (Gradle/bundle/attach), stop, windows, focus, resize, clipboard, performance, monitors, get_target_pid
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs desktop safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Claude Mobile, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For desktop, this is the rule to start with:
desktop stays usable, but rate-capped: a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Claude Mobile, apply this rule, and every desktop call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about desktop
Desktop app management: launch (Gradle/bundle/attach), stop, windows, focus, resize, clipboard, performance, monitors, get_target_pid. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Claude Mobile MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the Claude Mobile MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for desktop: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Claude Mobile. Nothing to install.
desktop is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the desktop rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for desktop. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
desktop is provided by the Claude Mobile MCP server (alexgladkov/claude-in-mobile). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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