About justdrop
justdrop is an MCP server that transfers files between an AI agent and a device through temporary rooms. It is for users moving files in either direction; transfers are end-to-end encrypted, and the receiving device only needs a browser.
Key features
- 01Send and receive files or folders
- 02Join rooms using a code or link
- 03View live transfer status
- 04Cancel or leave a room
- 05Restrict file access to a configured root
Use cases
- 01Send a report from an agent to a phone
- 02Receive a phone screenshot into a working directory
MCP support
The MCP server exposes `drop`, `receive`, `status`, and `cancel` tools. These create and manage encrypted, temporary file-transfer rooms.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
npx -y justdrop-mcpJUSTDROP_ROOTThe only directory the server may read files from or save files into (root jail). Defaults to the working directory.JUSTDROP_DEFAULT_EXPIRY_MINUTESRoom lifetime in minutes when a tool call doesn't specify one (1-1440, default 60).Local servers need a runtime on your machine (e.g. Node.js 18+). Config file locations differ by client; see your client’s docs.
Tools
4Saved tool list · updated 2w ago
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| paths | array | Yes | Absolute or relative paths of files/directories to send |
| room_code | string | No | Join this existing room and send into it, instead of creating a new room |
| expiry_minutes | integer | No | Room lifetime in minutes (default 60). The room self-destructs after this. |
Details
From the project READMEjustdrop-mcp
Give your AI agent a way to hand you files — live, end-to-end encrypted, nothing stored.
justdrop-mcp is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for JustDrop. Your agent creates a room, you scan a QR or open a link on any device, and the files move — encrypted before they leave the machine, decrypted only on yours, gone when the room closes. No account on either end. The receiving device needs nothing installed: just a browser.
You: "drop dist/report.pdf to my phone"
Agent: Room code: brave-otter-4821
Link: https://justdrop.ai/app#join=brave-otter-4821
[QR code]
You: *scan, tap, done — the room self-destructs*
It works the other way too: "grab the screenshot from my phone" gives you a QR; whatever you drop from the phone lands decrypted in your working directory, and the agent keeps working with it.
Install
Requires Node.js 20+.
claude mcp add justdrop -- npx -y justdrop-mcp
Or in .mcp.json / any MCP client config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"justdrop": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "justdrop-mcp"],
"env": {
"JUSTDROP_ROOT": "C:/path/to/allowed/folder"
}
}
}
}
Tools
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
drop | Send files/folders. Returns room code + link + QR immediately; the transfer runs automatically when the recipient opens the link. Pass room_code to send into an existing room instead. |
receive | Receive files into a directory. Creates a room (code + link + QR) and saves anything dropped into it, decrypted, automatically. Pass room_code to join a room someone else created. |
status | Live progress: peer presence, per-file state, saved paths. |
cancel | Destroys a room this session created (files + metadata deleted), or leaves a joined room. |
Configuration
| Env var | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
JUSTDROP_BASE_URL | https://justdrop.ai | Backend to talk to (point at http://localhost:3000 for local dev). |
JUSTDROP_ROOT | server's working directory | The only directory the server may read from / save into. |
JUSTDROP_DEFAULT_EXPIRY_MINUTES | 60 | Room lifetime when a tool doesn't specify one (1–1440). |
Safety model
An MCP server that reads local files is a prompt-injection target, so the guardrails are structural, not polite suggestions:
- Root jail — every path (sent or saved) must resolve inside
JUSTDROP_ROOT. Anything else is refused. - Credential refusal — dotfiles (
.env,.npmrc, …), SSH/TLS keys, keystores, cloud credential files, and shell histories are never sent, even when named explicitly. There is no override flag. - Explicit manifests — every
dropresult lists exactly which files were queued, so the user sees what's leaving. - Server-side blocklist parity — extensions JustDrop rejects (
.exe,.bat, …) are refused up front with a hint to zip instead. - Ephemeral by default — rooms carry an expiry (default 60 min) and self-destruct after delivery.
How the transfer works
dropcreates a room and registers an RSA-2048 public key; the tool returns the code/link/QR immediately.- When the recipient opens the link, their browser registers its own key. Rooms are one-to-one by design — treat the room code like the secret it is.
- Each file gets a fresh AES-256-GCM key, encrypted for both parties' RSA keys. The encrypted blob is relayed through short-lived signed URLs — the relay never sees plaintext or keys.
- Delivery is observed live; the room (and everything in it) is destroyed afterwards.
Files are encrypted in one shot in memory (format parity with the web app), so very large files need commensurate RAM. The hard cap is 2GB per file.
Local development
npm install
npm run verify # builds, boots ../justdrop-simple dev server, runs both test suites
# or piecewise, against a server you started yourself:
npm run build
node test/e2e.mjs http://localhost:3000 # core roundtrip (both directions + SSE)
node test/mcp-smoke.mjs http://localhost:3000 # full MCP stdio protocol exercise
License
MIT
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.