Updated 20 August 2026

SW Toolbox MCP

SW Toolbox MCP is a local tool hub for Cursor and Claude. Your agent calls file tools on your computer instead of writing a script. Your files never leave your device.

MCP needs SW Toolbox Pro ($15 once).
Paste the SW-TBX- key as SW_TOOLBOX_KEY. npx will not start without it.
The hub does not upload files to us.

Buy Pro — $15 oncePolar checkout. Paste the SW-TBX- key into mcp.json as SW_TOOLBOX_KEY.

1. Let Cursor spawn the hub

Cursor: Settings → MCP, or .cursor/mcp.json. Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json. Claude Code: project .mcp.json.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sw-toolbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "github:simonwong201293/tools-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "SW_TOOLS_GROUPS": "images",
        "SW_TOOLBOX_KEY": "SW-TBX-your-pro-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Set SW_TOOLS_GROUPS to images, pdf, data, or a comma list. That is how you keep tool-schema tokens down.

2. Or start from the Chrome extension

Chrome cannot spawn Node itself. Run this once (copy the command from the Agent tab — it includes your extension id), then click Start hub:

npx -y github:simonwong201293/tools-mcp install-host --extension-id=YOUR_EXTENSION_ID

After Start, paste this HTTP config so Cursor uses the process the extension already launched:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sw-toolbox": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:17321/mcp"
    }
  }
}

3. What the agent can call

images — compress_image, convert_image, resize_image, strip_exif, heic_convert
pdf — merge_pdf, split_pdf, images_to_pdf
data — format_json, view_csv, make_qr, color_palette

FAQ

Does the MCP upload my files?

No. The hub runs on your computer. Tools read and write local paths only — they reject http(s) URLs.

Why groups instead of many MCP servers?

Each extra server dumps more tool schemas into the model context. One hub with SW_TOOLS_GROUPS=images (or pdf, data) keeps the list small and saves tokens.

Is the MCP free?

No. The websites and the Chrome extension file tools stay free. The local MCP hub needs SW Toolbox Pro ($15 once). Paste the SW-TBX- key as SW_TOOLBOX_KEY in mcp.json. Without it, npx will not start.

Can the Chrome extension start the hub?

Yes, after a one-time Terminal install: npx -y github:simonwong201293/tools-mcp install-host --extension-id=YOUR_ID. Paste a Pro key, then click Start hub. The hub does not start when the extension loads. Chrome cannot spawn Node by itself.

Chrome extension Agent tab: tool directory. Privacy: Privacy Policy.