Reference

Handrive MCP Server: 40+ AI Tools for File Automation

Complete reference for Handrive's MCP server. Use these tools with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or any MCP-compatible AI assistant.

What is MCP?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data sources. Handrive's MCP server exposes 40+ tools that AI agents can use to fully automate file workflows.

Unlike traditional watch folders or scripts, MCP-powered automation is:

  • Context-aware: AI understands what files are and routes accordingly
  • Adaptive: Handles exceptions and edge cases intelligently
  • Conversational: You can guide automation in natural language
  • Composable: Combine tools into complex multi-step workflows

Quick Start

Add Handrive to your Claude Desktop configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "handrive": {
      "command": "/path/to/handrive",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop. Then ask: "List all my Handrive shares" to verify the connection.

Tool Categories

Handrive's 40+ MCP tools are organized into 8 categories:

🔐

Authentication

Manage authentication and session state

auth_statusCheck current authentication state
request_otpRequest OTP code sent to email
verify_otpVerify OTP code to complete login
logoutLog out and clear credentials
delete_accountPermanently delete account

Use case: Verify authentication before running automated workflows

📁

Share Management

Create, list, and manage shares

list_sharesList all accessible shares
get_shareGet details about a specific share
create_shareCreate a new share
update_shareModify share settings
delete_shareRemove a share
is_share_onlineCheck if a share's device is online

Use case: Automatically create project shares with consistent naming conventions

📄

File Operations

Browse, search, and manage files within shares

list_filesList files in a share or directory
search_filesFull-text search for files
get_folder_statsGet folder statistics (count, size)
get_fileGet file details and metadata
update_fileUpdate file tags or metadata
delete_fileDelete a file or directory
rename_fileRename or move a file
create_directoryCreate a new directory
scan_shareTrigger a rescan of a share
discover_filesSync file metadata from remote share

Use case: Organize dailies into scene/take folders, browse remote shares

👥

Member Management

Control who has access to shares

list_membersList share members
add_memberAdd a member with role
update_memberChange member role
remove_memberRemove a member

Use case: Auto-add editor when dailies arrive, remove VFX team when done

📇

Contact Management

Manage your contact list

list_contactsList all contacts
add_contactAdd a new contact
get_contactGet contact details
update_contactUpdate a contact's alias
remove_contactRemove a contact

Use case: Manage team directory for automated member assignment

⚡

Transfer Control

Manage file transfers

list_transfersList all transfers
get_transferGet transfer details and progress
start_downloadStart a download from a remote device
start_uploadStart an upload to a remote device
copy_filesCopy files between devices
cancel_transferCancel an active transfer
restart_transferRestart a failed transfer
delete_transferDelete a transfer record
clear_transfersClear completed/failed transfers

Use case: Trigger downloads when new files are shared, monitor progress

👤

User & Profile

User information and settings

get_my_profileGet current user profile
update_my_profileUpdate profile (name, avatar, metadata)
search_userSearch for a user by email
invite_userSend invitation to unregistered user
sync_profilesSync user profiles from server

Use case: Verify user context for multi-user automation

🔍

Discovery

Discover shares from devices

discover_sharesDiscover shares from your or contact's devices

Use case: Find available shares for peer-to-peer transfers

Example Workflows

Automated Dailies Ingest

# AI Agent workflow:
1. list_files(/DIT_Drive) → detect new footage
2. create_share("Dailies - 2026-02-20 - A-Cam")
3. add_member(share, "editor@studio.com", "Editor")
4. add_member(share, "director@studio.com", "Viewer")
5. create_directory(share, "Organized") → structure files

Multi-Department Handoff

# When picture locks:
1. create_share("VFX Handoff - Ep101")
2. add_member(share, "vfx@vendor.com", "Editor")
3. list_files(editor_export) → get locked cut

# When VFX returns:
4. remove_member(share, "vfx@vendor.com")
5. create_share("Color - Ep101")
6. add_member(share, "colorist@post.com", "Editor")

Project Archive

# Archive completed project:
1. list_shares() → find project shares
2. get_folder_stats(share) → verify all downloads complete
3. list_members(share) → document access history
4. update_share(share, { metadata: "archived" })
5. remove_member(share, external_users) → revoke access

Best Practices

  • Use descriptive share names. AI agents work better with consistent naming conventions like "Dailies - [Date] - [Camera]".
  • Store team contacts. Maintain a contact list so AI can automatically add the right people.
  • Create confirmation checkpoints. For destructive operations, have the AI ask for confirmation.
  • Log everything. Use update_file to add metadata tags for tracking automated actions.

Integration with Other Tools

MCP is composable. You can combine Handrive tools with:

  • Slack/Discord: Send notifications when files are ready
  • Calendar: Schedule automated backups
  • Project management: Update task status when deliverables complete
  • Custom APIs: Integrate with your studio's internal systems

Resources

Start Automating with AI

Download Handrive and connect it to Claude for intelligent file automation.

Download Handrive