Cua Driver
Cua Driver is a macOS desktop automation driver that lets agents and users control native apps through a CLI and MCP server.
What is Cua Driver?
Cua Driver is a native desktop automation tool for macOS that helps users and AI agents interact with desktop apps through a command-line interface and an MCP server. It is designed for workflows where software needs to click, type, scroll, inspect accessibility information, and read window state without taking over the user's pointer or focus in supported cases. Cua Driver supports use as a long-running background daemon, an MCP stdio server, or a one-shot shell command, which makes it flexible for local automation, agent testing, and development workflows. On macOS, it installs as CuaDriver.app and is intended to work with system privacy permissions so it can drive interface elements and capture screen data when those capabilities are enabled. The app is published by Cua AI, Inc. and is also available for Windows and Linux, but this entry refers to the macOS app.
Key features
- Control native desktop apps with click, type, and scroll actions
- Inspect accessibility trees for on-screen interface elements
- Capture window state for automation and testing workflows
- Run as an MCP server for agent integrations
- Use a CLI for one-off commands and scripting
- Keep a background daemon running for ongoing desktop control
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Inspect caches, support files, containers, and login items before cleaning.
Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
Cua Driver is legitimate automation software, but on macOS it may request Accessibility and Screen Recording access so it can interact with apps and capture screen content. Those permissions are normal for its purpose, yet they allow broad visibility into on-screen activity while the driver is running. If you use it, grant access only when you need desktop automation and close or disable it when you are not actively using those features.
Recommendation: Keep Cua Driver if you use AI-agent, scripting, or desktop automation workflows that need to control Mac apps. If you do not use those workflows, you can remove it to reduce background activity and revoke its privacy permissions afterward if they are no longer needed.
Common paths
/Applications/CuaDriver.app~/.local/bin/cua-driver
Cache paths
~/.cua-driver/packages/releases~/.cua-driver/packages/current
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