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What is Search, update, manage files and run terminal commands with AI.?
Desktop Commander MCP is a versatile tool that enables Claude Desktop to access your file system and terminal, allowing for coding, automation, and codebase exploration without API token costs. It provides enhanced terminal commands, interactive process control, and comprehensive file management capabilities.
Documentation
Desktop Commander MCP\n\n### Search, update, manage files and run terminal commands with AI
Work with code and text, run processes, and automate tasks, going far beyond other AI editors - without API token costs.
All of your AI development tools in one place.
Desktop Commander puts all dev tools in one chat.
Execute long-running terminal commands on your computer and manage processes through Model Context Protocol (MCP). Built on top of MCP Filesystem Server to provide additional search and replace file editing capabilities.
Features
Enhanced terminal commands with interactive process control
Execute code in memory (Python, Node.js, R) without saving files
Instant data analysis - just ask to analyze CSV/JSON files
Interact with running processes (SSH, databases, development servers)
Execute terminal commands with output streaming
Command timeout and background execution support
Process management (list and kill processes)
Session management for long-running commands
Server configuration management:
Get/set configuration values
Update multiple settings at once
Dynamic configuration changes without server restart
Full filesystem operations:
Read/write files
Create/list directories
Move files/directories
Search files
Get file metadata
Negative offset file reading: Read from end of files using negative offset values (like Unix tail)
Code editing capabilities:
Surgical text replacements for small changes
Full file rewrites for major changes
Multiple file support
Pattern-based replacements
vscode-ripgrep based recursive code or text search in folders
π Update & Uninstall Information: Before choosing an installation option, note that only Options 1 and 3 have automatic updates. Options 2, 4, and 5 require manual updates. See the sections below for update and uninstall instructions for each option.
Option 1: Install through npx β Auto-Updates
Just run this in terminal:
npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup
For debugging mode (allows Node.js inspector connection):
β Auto-Updates: Yes - automatically updates when you restart Claude π Manual Update: Run the setup command again ποΈ Uninstall: Run npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup --uninstall
Option 2: Using bash script installer (macOS) β Auto-Updates
For macOS users, you can use our automated bash installer which will check your Node.js version, install it if needed, and automatically configure Desktop Commander:
This script handles all dependencies and configuration automatically for a seamless setup experience.
β Auto-Updates: Yes - requires manual updates π Manual Update: Re-run the bash installer command above ποΈ Uninstall: Remove the MCP server entry from your Claude config file and delete the cloned repository if it exists
Option 3: Installing via Smithery β Auto-Updates
To install Desktop Commander for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:
npx -y @smithery/cli install @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander --client claude
β Auto-Updates: Yes - automatically updates when you restart Claude π Manual Update: Re-run the Smithery install command ποΈ Uninstall:npx -y @smithery/cli uninstall @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander --client claude
Option 4: Add to claude_desktop_config manually β Manual Updates
Add this entry to your claude_desktop_config.json:
On Mac: ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
On Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
On Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
β Auto-Updates: No - uses npx but config might not update automatically π Manual Update: Usually automatic via npx, but if issues occur, update your config file or re-add the entry ποΈ Uninstall: Remove the "desktop-commander" entry from your claude_desktop_config.json file
Option 5: Checkout locally β Manual Updates
Clone and build:
git clone https://github.com/wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP.git
cd DesktopCommanderMCP
npm run setup
Restart Claude if running.
The setup command will:
Install dependencies
Build the server
Configure Claude's desktop app
Add MCP servers to Claude's config if needed
β Auto-Updates: No - requires manual git updates π Manual Update:cd DesktopCommanderMCP && git pull && npm run setup ποΈ Uninstall: Remove the cloned directory and remove MCP server entry from Claude config
Option 2: Remove MCP server entry from Claude config and delete any cloned repositories
Option 3:npx -y @smithery/cli uninstall @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander --client claude
Option 4: Remove the "desktop-commander" entry from your claude_desktop_config.json file
Option 5: Delete the cloned directory and remove MCP server entry from Claude config
After uninstalling, restart Claude Desktop to complete the removal.
Usage
The server provides a comprehensive set of tools organized into several categories:
Available Tools
Category
Tool
Description
Configuration
get_config
Get the complete server configuration as JSON (includes blockedCommands, defaultShell, allowedDirectories, fileReadLineLimit, fileWriteLineLimit, telemetryEnabled)
set_config_value
Set a specific configuration value by key. Available settings: β’ blockedCommands: Array of shell commands that cannot be executedβ’ defaultShell: Shell to use for commands (e.g., bash, zsh, powershell)β’ allowedDirectories: Array of filesystem paths the server can access for file operations (β οΈ terminal commands can still access files outside these directories)β’ fileReadLineLimit: Maximum lines to read at once (default: 1000)β’ fileWriteLineLimit: Maximum lines to write at once (default: 50)β’ telemetryEnabled: Enable/disable telemetry (boolean)
Terminal
start_process
Start programs with smart detection of when they're ready for input
interact_with_process
Send commands to running programs and get responses
read_process_output
Read output from running processes
force_terminate
Force terminate a running terminal session
list_sessions
List all active terminal sessions
list_processes
List all running processes with detailed information
kill_process
Terminate a running process by PID
Filesystem
read_file
Read contents from local filesystem or URLs with line-based pagination (supports positive/negative offset and length parameters)
read_multiple_files
Read multiple files simultaneously
write_file
Write file contents with options for rewrite or append mode (uses configurable line limits)
create_directory
Create a new directory or ensure it exists
list_directory
Get detailed listing of files and directories
move_file
Move or rename files and directories
search_files
Find files by name using case-insensitive substring matching
search_code
Search for text/code patterns within file contents using ripgrep
get_file_info
Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory
Text Editing
edit_block
Apply targeted text replacements with enhanced prompting for smaller edits (includes character-level diff feedback)
Analytics
get_usage_stats
Get usage statistics for your own insight
give_feedback_to_desktop_commander
Open feedback form in browser to provide feedback to Desktop Commander Team
Quick Examples
Data Analysis:
"Analyze sales.csv and show top customers" β Claude runs Python code in memory
Remote Access:
"SSH to my server and check disk space" β Claude maintains SSH session
Development:
"Start Node.js and test this API" β Claude runs interactive Node session
Tool Usage Examples
Search/Replace Block Format:
filepath.ext
<<<<<<< SEARCH
content to find
=======
new content
>>>>>>> REPLACE
The edit_block tool includes several enhancements for better reliability:
Improved Prompting: Tool descriptions now emphasize making multiple small, focused edits rather than one large change
Fuzzy Search Fallback: When exact matches fail, it performs fuzzy search and provides detailed feedback
Character-level Diffs: Shows exactly what's different using {-removed-}{+added+} format
Multiple Occurrence Support: Can replace multiple instances with expected_replacements parameter
Comprehensive Logging: All fuzzy searches are logged for analysis and debugging
When a search fails, you'll see detailed information about the closest match found, including similarity percentage, execution time, and character differences. All these details are automatically logged for later analysis using the fuzzy search log tools.
Docker Support# π³ Isolated Environment Usage
Desktop Commander can be run in Docker containers for complete isolation from your host system, providing zero risk to your computer. This is perfect for testing, development, or when you want complete sandboxing.
Installation Instructions
Install Docker for Windows/Mac
Download and install Docker Desktop from docker.com
Desktop Commander includes comprehensive logging for fuzzy search operations in the edit_block tool. When an exact match isn't found, the system performs a fuzzy search and logs detailed information for analysis.
What Gets Logged
Every fuzzy search operation logs:
Search and found text: The text you're looking for vs. what was found
Similarity score: How close the match is (0-100%)
Execution time: How long the search took
Character differences: Detailed diff showing exactly what's different
File metadata: Extension, search/found text lengths
Character codes: Specific character codes causing differences
This audit trail helps with debugging, security monitoring, and understanding how Claude is interacting with your system.
Handling Long-Running Commands
For commands that may take a while:
Configuration Management# β οΈ Important Security Warnings
Always change configuration in a separate chat window from where you're doing your actual work. Claude may sometimes attempt to modify configuration settings (like allowedDirectories) if it encounters filesystem access restrictions.
The allowedDirectories setting currently only restricts filesystem operations, not terminal commands. Terminal commands can still access files outside allowed directories. Full terminal sandboxing is on the roadmap.
Configuration Tools
You can manage server configuration using the provided tools:
// Get the entire config
get_config({})
// Set a specific config value
set_config_value({ "key": "defaultShell", "value": "/bin/zsh" })
// Set multiple config values using separate calls
set_config_value({ "key": "defaultShell", "value": "/bin/bash" })
set_config_value({ "key": "allowedDirectories", "value": ["/Users/username/projects"] })
The configuration is saved to config.json in the server's working directory and persists between server restarts.
Understanding fileWriteLineLimit
The fileWriteLineLimit setting controls how many lines can be written in a single write_file operation (default: 50 lines). This limit exists for several important reasons:
Why the limit exists:
AIs are wasteful with tokens: Instead of doing two small edits in a file, AIs may decide to rewrite the whole thing. We're trying to force AIs to do things in smaller changes as it saves time and tokens
Claude UX message limits: There are limits within one message and hitting "Continue" does not really work. What we're trying here is to make AI work in smaller chunks so when you hit that limit, multiple chunks have succeeded and that work is not lost - it just needs to restart from the last chunk
Setting the limit:
// You can set it to thousands if you want
set_config_value({ "key": "fileWriteLineLimit", "value": 1000 })
// Or keep it smaller to force more efficient behavior
set_config_value({ "key": "fileWriteLineLimit", "value": 25 })
Maximum value: You can set it to thousands if you want - there's no technical restriction.
Best practices:
Keep the default (50) to encourage efficient AI behavior and avoid token waste
The system automatically suggests chunking when limits are exceeded
Smaller chunks mean less work lost when Claude hits message limits
Best Practices
Create a dedicated chat for configuration changes: Make all your config changes in one chat, then start a new chat for your actual work.
Be careful with empty allowedDirectories: Setting this to an empty array ([]) grants access to your entire filesystem for file operations.
Use specific paths: Instead of using broad paths like /, specify exact directories you want to access.
Always verify configuration after changes: Use get_config({}) to confirm your changes were applied correctly.
Using Different Shells
You can specify which shell to use for command execution:
// Using default shell (bash or system default)
execute_command({ "command": "echo $SHELL" })
// Using zsh specifically
execute_command({ "command": "echo $SHELL", "shell": "/bin/zsh" })
// Using bash specifically
execute_command({ "command": "echo $SHELL", "shell": "/bin/bash" })
This allows you to use shell-specific features or maintain consistent environments across commands.
execute_command returns after timeout with initial output
Command continues in background
Use read_output with PID to get new output
Use force_terminate to stop if needed
Debugging
If you need to debug the server, you can install it in debug mode:
npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup --debug
# Or if installed locally
npm run setup:debug
This will:
Configure Claude to use a separate "desktop-commander" server
Enable Node.js inspector protocol with --inspect-brk=9229 flag
Pause execution at the start until a debugger connects
Enable additional debugging environment variables
To connect a debugger:
In Chrome, visit chrome://inspect and look for the Node.js instance
In VS Code, use the "Attach to Node Process" debug configuration
Other IDEs/tools may have similar "attach" options for Node.js debugging
Important debugging notes:
The server will pause on startup until a debugger connects (due to the --inspect-brk flag)
If you don't see activity during debugging, ensure you're connected to the correct Node.js process
Multiple Node processes may be running; connect to the one on port 9229
The debug server is identified as "desktop-commander-debug" in Claude's MCP server list
Troubleshooting:
If Claude times out while trying to use the debug server, your debugger might not be properly connected
When properly connected, the process will continue execution after hitting the first breakpoint
You can add additional breakpoints in your IDE once connected
Model Context Protocol Integration
This project extends the MCP Filesystem Server to enable:
20-05-2025 v0.1.40 Release - Added audit logging for all tool calls, improved line-based file operations, enhanced edit_block with better prompting for smaller edits, added explicit telemetry opt-out prompting
05-05-2025 Fuzzy Search Logging - Added comprehensive logging system for fuzzy search operations with detailed analysis tools, character-level diffs, and performance metrics to help debug edit_block failures
29-04-2025 Telemetry Opt Out through configuration - There is now setting to disable telemetry in config, ask in chat
23-04-2025 Enhanced edit functionality - Improved format, added fuzzy search and multi-occurrence replacements, should fail less and use edit block more often
16-04-2025 Better configurations - Improved settings for allowed paths, commands and shell environments
14-04-2025 Windows environment fixes - Resolved issues specific to Windows platforms
14-04-2025 Linux improvements - Enhanced compatibility with various Linux distributions
12-04-2025 Better allowed directories and blocked commands - Improved security and path validation for file read/write and terminal command restrictions.
Terminal still can access files ignoring allowed directories.
11-04-2025 Shell configuration - Added ability to configure preferred shell for command execution
07-04-2025 Added URL support - read_file command can now fetch content from URLs
28-03-2025 Fixed "Watching /" JSON error - Implemented custom stdio transport to handle non-JSON messages and prevent server crashes
If you find this project useful, please consider giving it a β star on GitHub! This helps others discover the project and encourages further development.
We welcome contributions from the community! Whether you've found a bug, have a feature request, or want to contribute code, here's how you can help:
Have a feature idea? Submit a feature request in the issues section
Want to contribute code? Fork the repository, create a branch, and submit a pull request
Questions or discussions? Start a discussion in the GitHub Discussions tab
All contributions, big or small, are greatly appreciated!
If you find this tool valuable for your workflow, please consider supporting the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions. For a more comprehensive FAQ, see our detailed FAQ document.
What is Desktop Commander?
It's an MCP tool that enables Claude Desktop to access your file system and terminal, turning Claude into a versatile assistant for coding, automation, codebase exploration, and more.
How is this different from Cursor/Windsurf?
Unlike IDE-focused tools, Claude Desktop Commander provides a solution-centric approach that works with your entire OS, not just within a coding environment. Claude reads files in full rather than chunking them, can work across multiple projects simultaneously, and executes changes in one go rather than requiring constant review.
Do I need to pay for API credits?
No. This tool works with Claude Desktop's standard Pro subscription ($20/month), not with API calls, so you won't incur additional costs beyond the subscription fee.
Does Desktop Commander automatically update?
Yes, when installed through npx or Smithery, Desktop Commander automatically updates to the latest version when you restart Claude. No manual update process is needed.
What are the most common use cases?
Exploring and understanding complex codebases
Generating diagrams and documentation
Automating tasks across your system
Working with multiple projects simultaneously
Making surgical code changes with precise control
I'm having trouble installing or using the tool. Where can I get help?
Join our Discord server for community support, check the GitHub issues for known problems, or review the full FAQ for troubleshooting tips. You can also visit our website FAQ section for a more user-friendly experience. If you encounter a new issue, please consider opening a GitHub issue with details about your problem.
Data Collection & Privacy
Desktop Commander collects limited anonymous telemetry data to help improve the tool. No personal information, file contents, file paths, or command arguments are collected.
Usage Analytics (Local Only)
Local usage statistics are always collected and stored locally on your machine for functionality and the get_usage_stats tool
Use the get_usage_stats tool to view your personal usage patterns, success rates, and performance metrics
This data is NOT sent anywhere - it remains on your computer for your personal insights
Feedback System
Use the give_feedback_to_desktop_commander tool to provide feedback about Desktop Commander
Opens a browser-based feedback form to send suggestions and feedback to the development team
Only basic usage statistics (tool call count, days using, platform) are pre-filled to provide context but you can remove them
External Telemetry Opt-Out
External telemetry (sent to analytics services) is enabled by default but can be disabled:
Open the chat and simply ask:
"Disable telemetry"
The chatbot will update your settings automatically.
Note: This only disables external telemetry. Local usage analytics remain active for tool functionality but is not share externally
For complete details about data collection, please see our Privacy Policy.