# Desktop Commander MCP Server for Terminal and File Control

> Desktop Commander is an MCP server that gives AI assistants terminal command execution, file system search, diff-based file editing, and process management capabilities. It extends Claude Desktop and other MCP clients with full local development environment control.

- Skill: `agentskillexchange/desktop-commander-mcp-server-for-terminal-and-file-control` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add agentskillexchange/desktop-commander-mcp-server-for-terminal-and-file-control`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/agentskillexchange/desktop-commander-mcp-server-for-terminal-and-file-control/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: agentskillexchange (https://skillmd.com/u/agentskillexchange)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/agentskillexchange/desktop-commander-mcp-server-for-terminal-and-file-control

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# Desktop Commander MCP Server for Terminal and File Control

Desktop Commander is an MCP server that gives AI assistants terminal command execution, file system search, diff-based file editing, and process management capabilities. It extends Claude Desktop and other MCP clients with full local development environment control.

## Installation

Use the upstream install or setup path that matches your environment:
- npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup
- npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup --debug
- **🗑️ Uninstall:** Run npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest remove
- **🗑️ Uninstall:** Run npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest remove or remove the entry from your claude_desktop_config.json

Requirements and caveats from upstream:
- **Execute code in memory (Python, Node.js, R) without saving files**
- [Docker isolation](#option-6-docker-installation--auto-updates-no-nodejs-required) for full sandboxing
- **📋 Update & Uninstall Information:** Options 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 have automatic updates. Option 5 requires manual updates. See below for details.

Basic usage or getting-started notes:
- ### 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 - while using host client subscriptions instead of API token costs.
- [Getting Started](#getting-started)

- Source: https://github.com/wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP
- Extracted from upstream docs: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP/HEAD/README.md

## Source

- [Agent Skill Exchange](https://agentskillexchange.com/skills/desktop-commander-mcp-terminal-file-control/)