Reference

Handrive MCP Server: 43 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 43 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 43 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

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, create, 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_fileCreate a new file with content
create_directoryCreate a new directory
scan_shareTrigger a rescan of a share

Use case: Organize dailies into scene/take folders, create manifests

👥

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
delete_contactDelete 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 & Account

User information and settings

get_meGet current user profile
update_meUpdate profile (name, avatar, metadata)
search_userSearch for a user by email
sync_profilesSync user profiles from server

Use case: Verify user context for multi-user automation

🔍

Discovery

Discover users and their devices

discover_userDiscover a user's available devices

Use case: Find users and devices 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_file(share, "manifest.txt", clip_list)

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. create_file(archive, "access_log.json", members)
5. update_share(share, archived=true)

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 create_file to create audit logs of 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