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How to Configure MCP Server Permissions to Avoid Repeated Prompts

Cowrie
Cowrie
Dev @ Bswen

I set up an MCP server (things-mcp) to work with Claude Desktop, but every time I launched Claude, I got a pop-up asking for permission to access data. This became tedious quickly. Here’s how I solved it.

The Problem

There are two types of permission prompts you might encounter:

  1. macOS security prompts (TCC) — System dialogs like “uvx wants to access your reminders”
  2. Claude Desktop permission system — Claude asking to use specific MCP tools

The macOS prompts happen because uvx creates ephemeral environments each time, and macOS treats each as a new process requiring fresh permissions.

The Solution: Use uv tool install Instead of uvx

The key insight is that uvx creates temporary environments. Instead, install the MCP server permanently:

terminal
uv tool install things-mcp --python 3.11

Then update your Claude Desktop config:

claude_desktop_config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "things": {
      "command": "things-mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

This creates a persistent installation where macOS permissions are granted once to the installed tool.

Alternative: Grant System Permissions

If you prefer using uvx, you can grant Full Disk Access to your terminal:

  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access
  2. Add your terminal app (Terminal.app, iTerm.app) or Claude Desktop
  3. Restart Claude Desktop

For things-mcp specifically, you only need Reminders access, not Full Disk Access.

Config Location

On macOS, your Claude Desktop config is here:

terminal
open ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/

The config file is claude_desktop_config.json.

Troubleshooting

JSON validation error? Check your config:

terminal
cat ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json | python -m json.tool

Things data not found? Make sure the Things app is installed and synced to Apple Reminders.

Comparison

ApproachSecurityConvenienceUse Case
uvxHigher (ephemeral)Lower (repeated prompts)Testing, one-time use
uv tool installModerate (persistent)Higher (no prompts)Regular use, trusted tools

Summary

The main takeaway: use uv tool install instead of uvx for MCP servers you use regularly. The ephemeral nature of uvx causes macOS to treat each run as a new process, triggering permission prompts. A permanent installation retains permissions across sessions.

Final Words + More Resources

My intention with this article was to help others share my knowledge and experience. If you want to contact me, you can contact by email: Email me

Here are also the most important links from this article along with some further resources that will help you in this scope:

Oh, and if you found these resources useful, don’t forget to support me by starring the repo on GitHub!

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