desktop_stop
Stop running desktop application
This record as markdown: /tools/alexgladkov-claude-in-mobile/desktop-stop.md
What desktop_stop does on Claude Mobile
AI agents invoke desktop_stop 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_stop is rated High
Stopping an application is an Execute-class action because it triggers an external operation (process termination) whose consequences depend on the argument (which app to stop). While not destructive in the data-loss sense, forcibly stopping an app can cause loss of unsaved work, corrupt application state, or disrupt critical services.
From the tool's definition Tool 'desktop_stop' performs the action 'Stop running desktop application' — actively terminates a process, which is an execution action with external side effects that cannot be predicted without knowing the target application.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs desktop_stop 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_stop, this is the rule to start with:
desktop_stop 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_stop call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about desktop_stop
Stop running desktop application. 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_stop: 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_stop 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_stop 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_stop. 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_stop 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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