How do I install the Imessage skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add nousresearch/imessage in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Imessage skill do?

Send and receive iMessages/SMS via the imsg CLI on macOS. It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

Is Imessage safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: makes network calls. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Imessage?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Imessage free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Imessage?

NousResearch (@nousresearch) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Imessage by nousresearch — Agent Skill

Name: Imessage
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: NousResearch

File contents

iMessage

Use imsg to read and send iMessage/SMS via macOS Messages.app.

Prerequisites

macOS with Messages.app signed in
Install: brew install steipete/tap/imsg
Grant Full Disk Access for terminal (System Settings → Privacy → Full Disk Access)
Grant Automation permission for Messages.app when prompted

When to Use

User asks to send an iMessage or text message
Reading iMessage conversation history
Checking recent Messages.app chats
Sending to phone numbers or Apple IDs

When NOT to Use

Telegram/Discord/Slack/WhatsApp messages → use the appropriate gateway channel
Group chat management (adding/removing members) → not supported
Bulk/mass messaging → always confirm with user first

Quick Reference

List Chats

imsg chats --limit 10 --json

View History

# By chat ID
imsg history --chat-id 1 --limit 20 --json

# With attachments info
imsg history --chat-id 1 --limit 20 --attachments --json

Send Messages

# Text only
imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Hello!"

# With attachment
imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Check this out" --file /path/to/image.jpg

# Force iMessage or SMS
imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Hi" --service imessage
imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Hi" --service sms

Watch for New Messages

imsg watch --chat-id 1 --attachments

Service Options

--service imessage — Force iMessage (requires recipient has iMessage)
--service sms — Force SMS (green bubble)
--service auto — Let Messages.app decide (default)

Rules

Always confirm recipient and message content before sending
Never send to unknown numbers without explicit user approval
Verify file paths exist before attaching
Don't spam — rate-limit yourself

Example Workflow

User: "Text mom that I'll be late"

# 1. Find mom's chat
imsg chats --limit 20 --json | jq '.[] | select(.displayName | contains("Mom"))'

# 2. Confirm with user: "Found Mom at +1555123456. Send 'I'll be late' via iMessage?"

# 3. Send after confirmation
imsg send --to "+1555123456" --text "I'll be late"

Source: NousResearch/hermes-agent → skills/apple/imessage/SKILL.md

---name: imessagedescription: Send and receive iMessages/SMS via the imsg CLI on macOS.--- # iMessage Use `imsg` to read and send iMessage/SMS via macOS Messages.app. ## Prerequisites - **macOS** with Messages.app signed in - Install: `brew install steipete/tap/imsg` - Grant Full Disk Access for terminal (System Settings → Privacy → Full Disk Access) - Grant Automation permission for Messages.app when prompted ## When to Use - User asks to send an iMessage or text message - Reading iMessage conversation history - Checking recent Messages.app chats - Sending to phone numbers or Apple IDs ## When NOT to Use - Telegram/Discord/Slack/WhatsApp messages → use the appropriate gateway channel - Group chat management (adding/removing members) → not supported - Bulk/mass messaging → always confirm with user first ## Quick Reference ### List Chats ```bash imsg chats --limit 10 --json ``` ### View History ```bash # By chat ID imsg history --chat-id 1 --limit 20 --json # With attachments info imsg history --chat-id 1 --limit 20 --attachments --json ``` ### Send Messages ```bash # Text only imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Hello!" # With attachment imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Check this out" --file /path/to/image.jpg # Force iMessage or SMS imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Hi" --service imessage imsg send --to "+14155551212" --text "Hi" --service sms ``` ### Watch for New Messages ```bash imsg watch --chat-id 1 --attachments ``` ## Service Options - `--service imessage` — Force iMessage (requires recipient has iMessage) - `--service sms` — Force SMS (green bubble) - `--service auto` — Let Messages.app decide (default) ## Rules 1. **Always confirm recipient and message content** before sending 2. **Never send to unknown numbers** without explicit user approval 3. **Verify file paths** exist before attaching 4. **Don't spam** — rate-limit yourself ## Example Workflow User: "Text mom that I'll be late" ```bash # 1. Find mom's chat imsg chats --limit 20 --json | jq '.[] | select(.displayName | contains("Mom"))' # 2. Confirm with user: "Found Mom at +1555123456. Send 'I'll be late' via iMessage?" # 3. Send after confirmation imsg send --to "+1555123456" --text "I'll be late" ``` --- **Source:** [`NousResearch/hermes-agent`](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent) → `skills/apple/imessage/SKILL.md`

Frequently asked questions

Imessage