{"slug": "excalidrawz-local-native-excalidraw-on-macos-ios", "title": "ExcalidrawZ: Local Native Excalidraw on macOS/iOS", "summary": "ExcalidrawZ, an open-source native macOS/iOS/iPadOS app built around the Excalidraw canvas, adds native file management, iCloud sync, file history checkpoints, PDF import and export, LaTeX and function-graph tools, and an AI assistant that can read, create and revise drawings with proposal previews before changes are applied. The app can expose itself as an MCP server for compatible AI clients, with a basic `excalidraw-mcp` drawing mode and an optimized mode adding current-file editing, file navigation, history, canvas inspection, export, library workflows and math tools over an app-hosted HTTP endpoint. ExcalidrawZ also locks and encrypts files with local authentication and a Recovery Key, keeping locked content hidden from AI, and is distributed as a `.dmg` from its GitHub Releases page outside the App Store.", "body_md": "[Excalidraw](https://github.com/excalidraw/excalidraw) is an excellent drawing tool. ExcalidrawZ keeps the familiar Excalidraw canvas, then adds native file management, iCloud sync, history, export, AI assistance, MCP integration, and Apple-platform interaction details around it.\n\n**Non-App Store version**\n\n1. Download the latest `.dmg` from[Releases](https://github.com/chocoford/ExcalidrawZ/releases) .\n2. Open the `.dmg` and drag ExcalidrawZ into Applications.\n\nExcalidrawZ manages drawings as real app documents instead of loose browser downloads.\n\n- Organize drawings with groups and custom file sorting.\n- Work with ExcalidrawZ library files, local folders, and temporary external files.\n- Open and edit `.excalidraw` ,`.excalidraw.png` , and`.excalidraw.svg` files directly.\n- Sync app-managed files across macOS, iPadOS, and iOS with iCloud.\n- Keep file history checkpoints so important changes can be reviewed and restored.\n\nExcalidrawZ records checkpoints for app-managed drawings, so you can review earlier versions and restore important work when needed.\n\nThe canvas remains compatible with Excalidraw while the surrounding app is built for Apple platforms.\n\n- Customize toolbar tool order; number shortcuts follow your configured order.\n- Use Apple Pencil on iPad, including familiar undo and redo gestures.\n- Use mouse and trackpad scroll and zoom gestures on iPad and iPhone.\n- Import PDFs and convert Mermaid diagrams into editable Excalidraw content.\n\nUse Excalidraw collaboration when you want to draw with others.\n\nExcalidrawZ includes an AI assistant designed for canvas work.\n\n- Ask AI to read, create, and revise drawings.\n- Attach images and let AI use visual context when needed.\n- Use proposal previews before applying AI-generated content to the real canvas.\n- Control whether each file is visible to AI.\n- Use AI from compact iPhone toolbars, iPad floating panels, or the macOS inspector.\n\nExcalidrawZ can expose the current app as an MCP server for compatible AI clients.\n\n- Basic mode provides the familiar `excalidraw-mcp` drawing workflow.\n- Optimized mode adds deeper ExcalidrawZ integration for current-file editing, file navigation, history, canvas inspection, export, library workflows, and math tools.\n- Connect local MCP clients through the app-hosted HTTP endpoint.\n\nExcalidrawZ includes richer tools for technical drawings and study notes.\n\n- Insert LaTeX-rendered formulas.\n- Render function graphs with configurable axes and styles.\n- Use reusable math templates and AI-assisted formula generation.\n- Edit inserted math images later from the canvas.\n\nFor sensitive drawings, ExcalidrawZ adds protection around both storage and AI access.\n\n- Lock files with local authentication.\n- Encrypt locked files and their checkpoints.\n- Use a Recovery Key for fallback access.\n- Keep locked content hidden from AI; AI can work through proposal canvases instead.\n- Use encrypted backups as an additional recovery path.\n\nExcalidrawZ supports common export and sharing workflows.\n\n- Export images, editable Excalidraw files, and PDF.\n- Preserve editability when exporting `.excalidraw.png` and`.excalidraw.svg` .\n- Share through clipboard, files, and the system share sheet.\n- Archive app-managed files for backup.\n\nExcalidrawZ can open, import, edit, or export common Excalidraw-related formats:\n\n- `.excalidraw`\n- `.excalidraw.png`\n- `.excalidraw.svg`\n- PDF import and export\n- image export\n\nWelcome to my [Discord server](https://discord.gg/aCv6w4HxDg) to share suggestions or report issues for ExcalidrawZ.\n\n- The Excalidraw core used by ExcalidrawZ is also open-source. You can find it [here](https://github.com/chocoford/excalidraw/tree/ExcalidrawZ-core) .\n\nCreate `Config/Overrides.xcconfig` relative to the repository root, alongside `Config/Project.xcconfig`:\n\n```\nDEVELOPMENT_TEAM = YOUR_TEAM_ID\nICLOUD_CONTAINER = iCloud.com.yourname.ExcalidrawZ\nAPP_GROUP_IDENTIFIER = group.com.yourname.ExcalidrawZ\n```\n\nReplace these example values with identifiers registered to your Apple Developer team. The shared configuration leaves `DEVELOPMENT_TEAM` empty; set your team in the local overrides. The app and QuickLook extension must use the same App Group. All targets, including the extension and tests, inherit the team from `Config/Project.xcconfig`, which includes your local overrides. These overrides apply to all build configurations.\n\nCreate `Config/Secrets.plist` relative to the repository root. The project already references this file and includes it in both app targets' resources. The app's configuration loader stops with `Unable to load Secrets.plist` if the file is missing or invalid.\n\nFor local drawing development, this minimal configuration is sufficient:\n\n```\n<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC \"-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN\" \"http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd\">\n<plist version=\"1.0\">\n<dict>\n    <key>COLLAB_URL</key>\n    <string>https://example.com</string>\n</dict>\n</plist>\n```\n\n`COLLAB_URL` must be a valid absolute URL. The example URL is a placeholder for local drawing work; to test collaboration, replace it with the URL of your deployed collaboration-enabled Excalidraw web client.\n\nOptional string keys are `ONEDRIVE_CLIENT_ID`, `GOOGLE_DRIVE_MACOS_CLIENT_ID`, and `GOOGLE_DRIVE_IOS_CLIENT_ID`. Configure your own OAuth client IDs when developing the corresponding integrations.\n\n`Config/Overrides.xcconfig` and `Config/Secrets.plist` are ignored by Git and should stay local.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/excalidrawz-local-native-excalidraw-on-macos-ios", "canonical_source": "https://github.com/chocoford/ExcalidrawZ", "published_at": "2026-11-12 15:25:52+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-11-12 16:19:22.869427+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-tools", "ai-agents", "agent-protocols", "ai-products", "developer-tools"], "entities": ["ExcalidrawZ", "Excalidraw", "macOS", "iOS", "iPadOS", "iCloud", "Apple Pencil", "MCP"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/excalidrawz-local-native-excalidraw-on-macos-ios", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/excalidrawz-local-native-excalidraw-on-macos-ios.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/excalidrawz-local-native-excalidraw-on-macos-ios.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/excalidrawz-local-native-excalidraw-on-macos-ios.jsonld"}}