> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.screenpipe.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# continue - open-source copilot with screen context

> Set up screenpipe with Continue, the open-source AI copilot for VS Code and JetBrains, so it can reference your screen history while you code.

[Continue](https://github.com/continuedev/continue) is an open-source AI coding assistant with 20k+ GitHub stars. it works in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, and supports MCP servers for external context.

## setup

### VS Code

1. install Continue from the VS Code marketplace
2. open Continue settings
3. edit `~/.continue/config.json`:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": [
    {
      "name": "screenpipe",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "screenpipe-mcp"]
    }
  ]
}
```

4. restart VS Code

### JetBrains

1. install Continue from JetBrains marketplace
2. open Continue settings
3. add the same MCP configuration
4. restart the IDE

## usage

once configured, Continue can access your screen history:

```
> @screenpipe what was I working on this morning?

> find the error I saw in my terminal and help me fix it

> what documentation was I reading about react hooks?
```

## example workflows

**code with context:**

```
> I was looking at how another project handles authentication,
> find that code and help me implement something similar
```

**recall errors:**

```
> there was a typescript error earlier about types,
> find it and explain how to fix it
```

**meeting follow-up:**

```
> what did we discuss in the standup about the API changes?
> help me implement those changes
```

## available tools

via MCP, Continue gets access to:

| tool               | description                                                                             |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `search-content`   | search screen text (accessibility-first, OCR fallback), audio transcriptions, and input |
| `activity-summary` | lightweight overview of app usage, speakers, and recent texts for a time range          |
| `search-elements`  | search structured UI elements from the accessibility tree                               |
| `frame-context`    | full accessibility tree, URLs, and text for a specific frame                            |
| `list-meetings`    | list detected meetings with duration, app, and attendees                                |
| `export-video`     | export screen recordings as MP4 for a time range                                        |

## requirements

* screenpipe running on localhost:3030
* Continue extension in VS Code or JetBrains
* Node.js >= 18.0.0

## troubleshooting

**MCP server not appearing in Continue?**

1. check screenpipe is running:
   ```bash theme={null}
   curl http://localhost:3030/health
   ```
   you should see `{"status":"healthy"}`

2. verify the config file location:
   * VS Code: `~/.continue/config.json` (check it exists and is valid JSON)
   * JetBrains: open Continue settings and confirm the MCP config is saved

3. restart the IDE completely (not just the Continue extension)

4. if the server still doesn't appear, remove and re-add it in Continue settings

**screenpipe queries returning empty?**

* verify screenpipe has data:
  ```bash theme={null}
  curl "http://localhost:3030/search?limit=1"
  ```
  if empty, screenpipe hasn't recorded anything yet — let it run for a minute and try again

* check screen recording permissions are granted (System Settings on macOS)

* confirm you're querying a time range with recorded data

**"Error calling tool" in Continue?**

* check the screenpipe process is still running (it may have crashed):
  ```bash theme={null}
  curl http://localhost:3030/health
  ```

* check screenpipe logs:
  * macOS/Linux: `~/.screenpipe/screenpipe.log`
  * Windows: check event viewer or `%APPDATA%\screenpipe\logs`

* restart screenpipe if needed:
  ```bash theme={null}
  npx -y screenpipe@latest record
  ```

**VS Code extension not showing MCP tools?**

* reload the Continue extension: use VS Code's Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P) → "Reload Window"
* verify `config.json` is valid JSON (check for trailing commas)
* ensure Node.js >= 18.0.0: `node --version`

still stuck? [join our discord](https://discord.gg/screenpipe).