Windows CLI
Enables secure command-line interactions on Windows systems through PowerShell, CMD, and Git Bash, with support for SSH remote connections, SFTP file transfers, system monitoring, and configurable security controls including command blocking and path
What is Windows CLI?
Windows CLI is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to enables secure command-line interactions on windows systems through powershell, cmd, and git bash, with support for ssh remote connections, sftp file transfers, system monitoring, and configurable sec...
Enables secure command-line interactions on Windows systems through PowerShell, CMD, and Git Bash, with support for SSH remote connections, SFTP file transfers, system monitoring, and configurable security controls including command blocking and path
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Enables secure command-line interactions on Windows systems
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx windows-cli-mcp-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Windows CLI
Windows CLI MCP Server (package @simonb97/server-win-cli) gives Claude Desktop and other MCP clients controlled access to Windows command-line environments including PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Git Bash, plus remote systems over SSH and file transfers via SFTP. It ships with configurable security controls — blocked command lists, path restrictions, command-length limits, injection protection, and full command logging — so you can safely expose shell access without giving unrestricted system control. It is ideal for Windows developers and system administrators who want to automate file operations, run builds, or manage remote servers through natural language.
Prerequisites
- Windows operating system (the server targets Windows shells)
- Node.js 18 or higher and npx available in PATH
- Git for Windows installed if you want Git Bash support (optional)
- SSH server credentials if you plan to use remote SSH connections
- Claude Desktop or another MCP-compatible client
Run the server directly with npx
The simplest way to start is npx with the @simonb97/server-win-cli package. No global install is required.
npx -y @simonb97/server-win-cliGenerate a default configuration file
Create a config.json with all default security settings so you can review and adjust them before connecting to Claude.
npx @simonb97/server-win-cli --init-config ./config.jsonReview and adjust security settings
Open config.json and customize blockedCommands, allowedPaths, restrictWorkingDirectory, and shell toggles to match your security requirements. The defaults block destructive commands like rm, del, format, and reg.
Configure SSH connections (optional)
Add named SSH connection profiles to the ssh.connections section of config.json to allow Claude to execute commands on remote servers.
{
"ssh": {
"enabled": true,
"connections": {
"myserver": {
"host": "192.168.1.10",
"port": 22,
"username": "admin",
"privateKeyPath": "C:\\Users\\you\\.ssh\\id_rsa"
}
}
}
}Add the server to Claude Desktop
Edit claude_desktop_config.json to register the server, pointing to your custom config file.
Windows CLI Examples
Client configuration
Basic configuration using npx. Pass --config to load your custom security rules.
{
"mcpServers": {
"windows-cli": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@simonb97/server-win-cli",
"--config",
"C:\\Users\\you\\.win-cli-mcp\\config.json"
]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts that exercise PowerShell, CMD, Git Bash, and SSH tools exposed by the server.
- "List all running processes sorted by CPU usage using PowerShell"
- "Show the disk usage of C: drive in a human-readable format"
- "Run git status in my project folder at C:\\Projects\\myapp"
- "Connect to myserver via SSH and check the uptime"
- "Show the last 20 lines of C:\\Logs\\app.log using PowerShell"Troubleshooting Windows CLI
Command blocked even though it seems safe
Check the blockedCommands and blockedArguments arrays in your config.json. Remove entries that are too restrictive, or use the allowedPaths list to narrow scope instead of blocking the command entirely.
Git Bash shell fails to start
Verify the path in shells.gitbash.command matches your actual Git installation. The default is 'C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe'. Update it if Git is installed elsewhere.
SSH connection times out
Ensure ssh.enabled is set to true and the connection profile has the correct host, port, and credential path. Increase readyTimeout in the ssh section if the server is slow to respond.
Frequently Asked Questions about Windows CLI
What is Windows CLI?
Windows CLI is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables secure command-line interactions on windows systems through powershell, cmd, and git bash, with support for ssh remote connections, sftp file transfers, system monitoring, and configurable security controls including command blocking and path It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Windows CLI?
Follow the installation instructions on the Windows CLI GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Windows CLI?
Windows CLI works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Windows CLI free to use?
Yes, Windows CLI is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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