Perplexity gets smarter on Mac with new MCP support

Perplexity gets smarter on Mac with new MCP support

A clever new integration brings Perplexity closer to your everyday apps, and it just might change how you use your Mac.

Perplexity’s Mac app now supports MCP, a universal protocol for AI integration. You can now search notes, manage emails, and access files directly through the Perplexity interface. A helper app is required, and integrations depend on user-installed MCP servers.

A quiet leap forward in AI usability

Perplexity’s macOS app has always been quick and handy, with its floating prompt field triggered by a simple keyboard shortcut. Now, with support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), it transforms from a clever Q&A assistant into a gateway for controlling your digital life. You can learn more about how AI assistants are changing daily interactions in our article, How People Really Use AI in 2025.

For those unfamiliar, MCP is a protocol proposed by Anthropic that aims to standardise the way AI interfaces with traditional apps and data platforms. Think of it as the HTTP of AI, enabling assistants to plug into everything from email clients to cloud drives with minimal fuss. Since launch, it has quietly gained traction among major players such as Salesforce, Google, and Zapier. This focus on integration and standardisation is crucial for the broader adoption of AI, a topic we also discuss in AI's Secret Revolution: Trends You Can't Miss.

What MCP means for Perplexity users

With MCP support baked into Perplexity for Mac, users can now:

Search and edit Apple Notes Add calendar events and reminders Send emails via default clients Pull information from Google Drive and other file sources

This capability hinges on connectors, small bridges that let Perplexity talk to different services via MCP. The catch? Mac App Store restrictions require a secondary app, aptly named PerplexityXPC, to facilitate this. This kind of integration highlights the growing trend of AI agents, which we explored in Will AI Agents Steal Your Job Or Help You Do It Better?.

Setting it up: Not quite plug and play

To get going, you’ll need to:

1. Download PerplexityXPC from the Mac App Store.
2. Install an MCP server—either an official one or a community-supported open-source option.
3. Configure Perplexity to connect to your chosen MCP server.

Perplexity has released support videos and guides to walk users through this process. While not difficult, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart—or the faintly technical.

A word of caution on open-source tools

The platform encourages users to experiment with different MCP servers, many of which are open source and freely available. But it’s wise to tread carefully. As Perplexity themselves note, not all integrations are created equal. Community-run connectors can vary wildly in quality and security, and users are urged to read documentation and join forum discussions before granting access to sensitive data. For a deeper dive into the ethical considerations surrounding AI, you might find our coverage on India's AI Future: New Ethics Boards insightful.

That said, the upside is compelling. Rather than switching between apps or clicking through menus, users can delegate increasingly complex tasks to Perplexity in natural language.

What this signals for AI on desktop

The arrival of MCP in Perplexity’s Mac app reflects a broader trend: the slow but steady embedding of AI into desktop environments. While much attention goes to chatbots in browsers or phones, desktop AI agents are gaining sophistication, especially in markets like Japan and Singapore where productivity tools are deeply entrenched in everyday workflows. Research from Statista indicates a significant increase in the AI software market size, underscoring this growing integration.

By enabling this cross-app control layer, Perplexity opens up a glimpse of what a more unified, command-based interface might look like. If MCP continues to gain traction—and if Perplexity nails the onboarding—we may soon be talking to our Macs far more than we click.

Engagement Close

Have you tried Perplexity’s MCP connectors? Are they changing how you work on Mac? Share your experience or integrations you love—and any cautionary tales—in the comments.