Claude Code ChatInWindows
Full-featured GUI for Claude Code CLI in VS Code — Windows (no WSL) & macOS. Third-party API, MCP plugins, Skills, Hooks, real-time token tracking. Actively maintained.
What is Claude Code ChatInWindows?
Claude Code ChatInWindows is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to full-featured gui for claude code cli in vs code — windows (no wsl) & macos. third-party api, mcp plugins, skills, hooks, real-time token tracking. actively maintained.
Full-featured GUI for Claude Code CLI in VS Code — Windows (no WSL) & macOS. Third-party API, MCP plugins, Skills, Hooks, real-time token tracking. Actively maintained.
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Full-featured GUI for Claude Code CLI in VS Code — Windows (
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx claude-code-chatinwindowsConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Claude Code ChatInWindows
Claude Code ChatInWindows is a full-featured VS Code extension that adds a graphical chat UI to the Claude Code CLI, bringing native Windows support without requiring WSL, along with macOS compatibility. It provides GUI panels for MCP plugin management, Skills, and Hooks configuration, supports third-party API endpoints (OpenAI-compatible), and tracks token usage and cost in real time. It is actively maintained and particularly valuable for Windows developers who previously had to use WSL to run Claude Code.
Prerequisites
- VS Code installed on Windows or macOS
- Node.js 18 or newer installed system-wide
- Git for Windows (required on Windows for shell integration)
- Claude Code CLI: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
- An Anthropic API key or a third-party OpenAI-compatible API endpoint
Install Git for Windows and Node.js (Windows only)
Download and install Git for Windows, which provides the bash shell that Claude Code ChatInWindows needs. Then install Node.js 18+. After installing Git, set the SHELL environment variable to point to bash.exe.
# In PowerShell (run as Administrator):
setx SHELL "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe"Install the Claude Code CLI globally
Install the official Claude Code CLI via npm. This is the underlying engine that the extension wraps with a GUI.
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-codeInstall the VS Code extension
Install Claude Code ChatInWindows from the VS Code Marketplace by searching for 'Claude Code ChatInWindows', or download the .vsix file from the GitHub Releases page and install manually.
Authenticate with your API provider
For official Anthropic accounts, open the extension panel and follow the browser-based authorization flow. For third-party APIs, open extension settings (Ctrl+Shift+C, then the gear icon), enable 'Use Custom API Endpoint', and enter your API key and Base URL.
# For persistent third-party API (set permanently):
setx ANTHROPIC_API_KEY "sk-ant-xxxxxxxxxx"
setx ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL "https://your-api-endpoint.com"Configure MCP plugins, Skills, and Hooks
Use the dedicated GUI panels in the extension to add MCP servers at global or workspace level, configure Skills (slash commands), and set up Hooks (pre/post-event scripts). These panels replace manual JSON editing.
Disable VS Code auto-save to prevent conflicts
Claude Code modifies files during responses. Auto-save can trigger file system events that conflict with ongoing edits. Disable auto-save in your workspace settings to avoid errors.
// In .vscode/settings.json:
{
"files.autoSave": "off"
}Claude Code ChatInWindows Examples
Client configuration
MCP server entry in Claude Desktop config (if using the extension's MCP features alongside Claude Desktop).
{
"mcpServers": {
"claude-code-chatinwindows": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["claude-code-chatinwindows"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
These prompts work inside the ChatInWindows extension panel once connected to your API.
- "How many tokens have I used in this session and what is the estimated cost?"
- "List all MCP servers currently configured at workspace level"
- "Refactor this TypeScript file to use async/await instead of Promise chains"
- "Run the tests for this project and summarize any failures"
- "Add a new MCP server for GitHub to my global configuration"Troubleshooting Claude Code ChatInWindows
'No suitable shell found' error on Windows startup
Ensure Git for Windows is installed and the SHELL environment variable points to bash.exe (typically C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe). Set it permanently with 'setx SHELL "path"' in an admin PowerShell, then restart your computer.
API key works initially but stops working after VS Code restart
Environment variables set with 'set' in CMD are session-scoped. Use 'setx' to persist them permanently, or add ANTHROPIC_API_KEY and ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL to your system environment variables via Windows Settings → System → Advanced system settings → Environment Variables.
Claude edits cause file corruption or partial writes
Disable VS Code auto-save by setting 'files.autoSave': 'off' in your workspace settings.json. Auto-save triggers file change events during Claude's multi-step edits, causing conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Claude Code ChatInWindows
What is Claude Code ChatInWindows?
Claude Code ChatInWindows is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that full-featured gui for claude code cli in vs code — windows (no wsl) & macos. third-party api, mcp plugins, skills, hooks, real-time token tracking. actively maintained. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Claude Code ChatInWindows?
Follow the installation instructions on the Claude Code ChatInWindows GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Claude Code ChatInWindows?
Claude Code ChatInWindows works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Claude Code ChatInWindows free to use?
Yes, Claude Code ChatInWindows is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Claude Code ChatInWindows in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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