---
title: AI apps on your Mac
description: Connect Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor or Codex to illuminate. Free, and nothing leaves your Mac.
section: AI apps
order: 2
updated: 2026-11-01
related: [illuminate-mcp, remote-access]
---
# AI apps on your Mac

AI apps on the same Mac read your illuminate sessions directly. It's free, it's read-only, and nothing leaves your Mac.

## Connect an app

1. Open illuminate's **Settings → AI Apps**.
2. Find your app:
   - **Claude Desktop or Cursor:** press **Connect**. illuminate adds itself to the app's MCP servers and leaves your other servers as they are. It keeps a copy of the app's settings file as it was, next to it.
   - **Claude Code:** copy the command shown and run it once in Terminal. Claude Code then has illuminate in every project.
   - **Codex:** add the lines shown to `~/.codex/config.toml`.
   - **Another app:** add the settings shown to the app's MCP servers. Most apps use the same `mcpServers` format.
3. Restart the app if it was open.
4. Ask it something, such as *"what's my latest illuminate report?"*

## Disconnect

In **Settings → AI Apps**, press **Disconnect** next to the app. For apps you set up by hand, remove illuminate from their MCP servers.

## If it doesn't work

- **Restart the AI app.** Most apps only read their MCP servers when they start.
- **Check where illuminate is.** The connection points to the installed illuminate. If you move or reinstall it, connect again.
- **Mention illuminate.** Some apps only use a tool when it fits the question; *"in illuminate"* helps.