# Remote Desktop Commander

A hosted MCP connector that links AI assistants to your local filesystem, terminal sessions, and running processes. Useful when automating tasks on a remote machine.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed · ★ 191
- Author: desktop-commander
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/desktop-commander/remote-desktop-commander
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/remote-desktop-commander

## What it does

This hosted bridge relays tool calls from your AI client to your personal machine over HTTP and OAuth 2.0. To enable access, you start a background runner on the target system using `npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest remote` and complete a browser verification code. Shutting down that terminal immediately cuts all remote access.

The connector provides capabilities for file inspection, document editing, and process management. An agent can list folder trees, modify text or PDF assets, start background CLI tasks, and read interactive terminal output. You can also attach multiple workstations to one profile and switch between them by name.

Every command executes with the OS privileges of your local account. The runner requires Node.js 18 or newer across macOS, Windows, or Linux. Keep the background terminal open while working.

## Requirements
- Remote server: `https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp`

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
claude mcp add --transport http remote-desktop-commander https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
codex mcp add remote-desktop-commander --url https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "remote-desktop-commander": {
            "url": "https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp"
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "remote-desktop-commander": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp"
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
gemini mcp add -t http remote-desktop-commander https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp
```

## When to use it
- inspect and update local project files through remote AI tools
- spawn background terminal processes and read their console output
- switch control between multiple linked computers in a single session
- edit PDF documents and directories directly on disk

## Example prompts
- Show the contents of my home directory and find config files updated today.
- Start a Python session on my machine and print the active numpy version.
- Make a directory named playground in Documents and add a script that checks system time.

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md