Claude Desktop Install for Interactive Brokers

Updated: 2026-06-07 20:23 CEST

This is the Mac install path for using Claude Desktop with Interactive Brokers through ibkr. The MCP Bundle (.mcpb) packages the ibkr MCP server for Claude Desktop, but it does not install Interactive Brokers software or enable broker API access for you.

This page is for searches such as "Claude Desktop Interactive Brokers", "Claude Desktop IBKR MCP", "IBKR Claude Desktop MCP", and "connect Claude to IBKR".

If search results show Interactive Brokers' IBKR Desktop trading platform, that is a different product. This page is about Claude Desktop using the local ibkr mcp server through IB Gateway or TWS.

What the download installs

The MCPB installs an ibkr Claude Desktop extension. On Mac, the bundle carries both Apple Silicon and Intel binaries and Claude runs the bundled server locally through stdio.

It does not install Claude Desktop, IB Gateway, TWS, an IBKR account, or market-data entitlements. Those must already be available on the Mac before Claude can read account or market context.

Download ibkr.mcpb

Mac prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed on the Mac.
IB Gateway 10.37 or newer, or Trader Workstation (TWS), installed and running locally.
An IBKR Pro account with TWS API access. IBKR Lite does not include TWS API access.
API socket access enabled in IB Gateway or TWS.
Market-data permissions for any quotes, option chains, or scanner data you expect Claude to read.

Install steps in Claude Desktop

Start IB Gateway or TWS and log in to the account you want Claude to read.
Confirm API socket access is enabled in the IBKR app. The default local ports are auto-discovered.
Download ibkr.mcpb using the button above.
Open the downloaded .mcpb file with Claude Desktop, drag it into Claude Desktop, or use Settings > Extensions > Advanced settings > Install Extension.
Review the extension details and approve the install in Claude Desktop.
Fully quit Claude Desktop with Command-Q, then reopen it so Claude starts the bundled ibkr MCP server.

First checks

With Claude Desktop relaunched and IB Gateway or TWS still running, start a new Claude chat and ask one simple account or market question:

What is in my IBKR account?

If Claude reports that the gateway is unreachable, leave Claude open, verify that IB Gateway or TWS is logged in with API access enabled, then fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop again.

Safety boundary: Claude can read account and market context through this server. The bundled MCP surface does not expose tools to place, modify, cancel, or transmit broker orders.

What Claude can ask through ibkr

"What's in my IBKR account?"
"Show my AAPL exposure, including option deltas."
"What expiries are listed for SPY and what is the implied move?"
"Is Xetra open on Whit Monday?"
"Are dealers supporting or amplifying today's SPY move?"
"If I enter MSFT at 418 with a stop at 408, what is my EUR risk?"

Claude receives structured account and market data from ibkr mcp; it does not receive an order-entry tool.

Shell-managed alternative

Most Claude Desktop users on Mac should use the MCPB above. Use the shell-managed path only if you specifically want one shared binary for Claude Desktop, Cursor, Continue, Zed, and terminal use:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/osauer/ibkr/main/install.sh | sh
ibkr setup claude-desktop

Restart Claude Desktop after upgrading the binary. MCP hosts cache the spawned server process until the host exits. MCPB installs carry their own embedded binary, so update the MCPB path by downloading and reinstalling the latest ibkr.mcpb.

References

IBKR MCP server for the exact local MCP server overview.
Interactive Brokers MCP server for the full project setup page.
MCP tools reference for the tool schema Claude routes against.