Imessage
iMessage channel for Claude Code — reads chat.db directly, sends via AppleScript. Built-in access control; manage pairing, allowlists, and policy via /imessage:access.
- Type
- Plugin
- Repository
- anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- GitHub stars
- 37.1k
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Repo last updated
- Sep 25, 2026
- Version
- 0.1.0
What Imessage is
Imessage is a plugin published in the anthropics/claude-plugins-official repository on GitHub, which has about 37.1k stars. The repository describes itself as: “Official, Anthropic-managed directory of high quality Claude Code Plugins.”
A plugin is a package that bundles skills, slash commands, subagents, hooks, and MCP connectors so they install together. Plugins are plain files with a manifest at .claude-plugin/plugin.json, and they work in both Claude Code and Claude Cowork.
Installing Imessage adds everything it ships in one step. Connectors inside a plugin still need to be connected separately, and hooks and subagents only run in Cowork and Claude Code, not in regular chat.
How to install Imessage
Claude Code
- Add the repository as a plugin marketplace: claude plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Install the plugin: claude plugin install imessage@<marketplace-name>, using the marketplace name from the repository's .claude-plugin/marketplace.json.
- Restart the session if the new skills or commands don't appear straight away.
Claude Cowork
- Open Customize → Plugins and choose Add marketplace.
- Enter anthropics/claude-plugins-official (the owner/repo shorthand works for GitHub).
- Find Imessage in the list, click Install, then connect any connectors it needs from its Connectors tab.
New to extending Cowork? Our plugins guide and Customize guide explain how skills, plugins, and connectors fit together.
Inside the source file
An excerpt from external_plugins/imessage/.claude-plugin/plugin.json, shared under the repository's Apache-2.0 license. Read the full file on GitHub.
Connect iMessage to your Claude Code assistant. Reads ~/Library/Messages/chat.db directly for history, search, and new-message detection; sends via AppleScript to Messages.app. No external server, no background process to keep alive.
macOS only.
Quick setup
> Default: text yourself. Other senders are dropped silently (no auto-reply) until you allowlist them. See ACCESS.md for groups and multi-user setups.
1. Grant Full Disk Access.
chat.db is protected by macOS TCC. The first time the server reads it, macOS pops a prompt asking if your terminal can access Messages — click Allow. The prompt names whatever app launched bun (Terminal.app, iTerm, Ghostty, your IDE).
If you click Don't Allow, or the prompt never appears, grant it manually: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access → add your terminal. Without this the server exits immediately with authorization denied.
2. Install the plugin.
These are Claude Code commands — run claude to start a session first.
Install the plugin. No env vars required.
/plugin install imessage@claude-plugins-official3. Relaunch with the channel flag.
The server won't connect without this — exit your session and start a new one:
claude --channels plugin:imessage@claude-plugins-officialCheck that /imessage:configure tab-completes.
4. Text yourself.
iMessage yourself from any device. It reaches the assistant immediately — self-chat bypasses access control.
> The first outbound reply triggers an Automation permission prompt ("Terminal wants to control Messages"). Click OK.
5. Decide who else gets in.
Nobody else's texts reach the assistant until you add their handle:
/imessage:access allow +15551234567Handles are phone numbers (+15551234567) or Apple ID emails ([email protected]). If you're not sure what you want, ask Claude to review your setup.
How it works
Environment variables
Access control
See ACCESS.md for DM policies, groups, self-chat, delivery config, skill commands, and the access.json schema.
Quick reference: IDs are handle addresses (+15551234567 or [email protected]). Default policy is allowlist — this reads your personal chat.db. Self-chat always bypasses the gate.
Tools exposed to the assistant
What you don't get
AppleScript can send messages but not tapback, edit, or thread — those require Apple's private API. If you need them, look at BlueBubbles (requires disabling SIP).
Before you install
- Read the whole file first. Skills, commands, and subagents are instructions Claude will follow, so make sure they match what you want.
- Check which tools, scripts, or MCP servers it uses. Local servers and scripts run with your permissions.
- Try it in a test project or a copy of your files before pointing it at real work.
- Pin the version you tested, and review changes before updating.
- Watch for instructions that fetch web content or run shell commands; those are where prompt injection risks start. See our prompt injection guide.
FAQ
What is Imessage?
Imessage is a plugin for Claude Code and Claude Cowork from the anthropics/claude-plugins-official repository on GitHub. iMessage channel for Claude Code — reads chat.db directly, sends via AppleScript. Built-in access control; manage pairing, allowlists, and policy via /imessage:access.
How do I install Imessage in Claude Code?
Add the repository as a plugin marketplace: claude plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official Install the plugin: claude plugin install imessage@<marketplace-name>, using the marketplace name from the repository's .claude-plugin/marketplace.json. Restart the session if the new skills or commands don't appear straight away.
Can I use Imessage in Claude Cowork?
Open Customize → Plugins and choose Add marketplace. Enter anthropics/claude-plugins-official (the owner/repo shorthand works for GitHub). Find Imessage in the list, click Install, then connect any connectors it needs from its Connectors tab.
Is Imessage safe to install?
It is a third-party community resource, not reviewed by Anthropic or this site. Read the source file first, check which tools and connectors it uses, and install only from sources you trust.
Similar resources
- Claude Md Management Tools to maintain and improve CLAUDE.md files - audit quality, capture session learnings, and keep project memory current. Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Code Modernization Guided modernization for any legacy codebase: start with /modernize, get an assessment, an interactive map, the business rules mined from the code, and a plan you approve, then an upgrade, a rewrite or a rebuild with independent proof that the new code behaves like the old. Includes security hardening, a one-page report, specialist agents, and an optional live progress pane (early access). Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Code Review Automated code review for pull requests using multiple specialized agents with confidence-based scoring Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Code Simplifier Agent that simplifies and refines code for clarity, consistency, and maintainability while preserving functionality Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Laravel Boost Laravel development toolkit MCP server. Provides intelligent assistance for Laravel applications including Artisan commands, Eloquent queries, routing, migrations, and framework-specific code generation. Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Hookify Easily create hooks to prevent unwanted behaviors by analyzing conversation patterns Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Learning Output Style Interactive learning mode that requests meaningful code contributions at decision points (mimics the unshipped Learning output style) Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official
- Greptile AI code review agent for GitHub and GitLab. View and resolve Greptile's PR review comments directly from Claude Code. Plugin · anthropics/claude-plugins-official