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Remote Desktop Commander

Hosted MCP server connecting claude.ai, ChatGPT and other AI apps to your own computer

Open source Repository Open in the app JSON README (API)

About

Hosted MCP server connecting claude.ai, ChatGPT and other AI apps to your own computer

Details

Kind
MCP servers
Topic
No topic detected
Publisher
app.desktopcommander
Origin
official
Category
ferramentas
Transport
http
Version
1.0.3
Stars
19
Forks
2
Last push
2026-08-06T05:41:29Z
Repository state
ativo
License
NOASSERTION
Added
2026-08-29 03:00:44
Updated
2026-08-29 03:00:44
Origin id
app.desktopcommander/remote-desktop-commander

README

# Remote Desktop Commander

![Remote Desktop Commander](assets/logo-small.png)

**Build, explore, automate on your computer — from anywhere.**

Reach your computer's filesystem and terminal from any AI app that supports remote MCP connectors. Remote Desktop Commander is a hosted [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server that relays a secure connection to your real machine, giving your AI assistant the same full file and shell access as the local server — without you needing to be at the keyboard.

- **Server endpoint:** `https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp` (Streamable HTTP, OAuth 2.0)
- **Dashboard:** [mcp.desktopcommander.app](https://mcp.desktopcommander.app)
- **Status:** currently in beta
- **Demo:** [watch the video](https://youtu.be/C2kH5itFsGg)

[![Add to Cursor](https://img.shields.io/badge/Add_to-Cursor-000000?style=for-the-badge&logo=cursor&logoColor=white)](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=remote-desktop-commander&config=eyJ1cmwiOiAiaHR0cHM6Ly9tY3AuZGVza3RvcGNvbW1hbmRlci5hcHAvbWNwIn0=)

> This repository hosts the public manifests, documentation and issue tracker for the hosted service. The service implementation is not open source. For the open-source local (stdio) server, see [DesktopCommanderMCP](https://github.com/wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP).

## What you can do

- **Build from scratch** — create features and applications with simple commands
- **Manage development environments** — set up servers, configure systems, handle processes
- **Explore existing codebases** — navigate and understand complex repositories
- **Edit documents in place** — work on Word, Excel, and PDF files where they live on disk
- **Manage context and documentation** — keep track of project details and technical specifications
- **Control multiple machines** — pair several computers and address them by name in one conversation

## Quick start

### 1. Start the device agent

On the computer you want to control:

```bash
npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest remote
```

Your browser opens to a verification page showing a pairing code (also printed in the terminal — a standard OAuth device-flow check). Sign in, confirm the codes match, and the terminal reports "Device ready". Keep the agent running: close the terminal, no access.

### 2. Connect your AI client

Each client walks you through OAuth sign-in on first connect.

**claude.ai / Claude Desktop** — Settings → Connectors → **Add custom connector**, then enter:

```
https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp
```

**Claude Code:**

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

(If you work inside a checkout of this repo, Claude Code also picks up the included [`.mcp.json`](.mcp.json) automatically.)

**ChatGPT** — Settings → Apps & Connectors → Advanced settings → enable **Developer mode** (requires a plan that includes it), then **Create connector** and enter:

```
https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp
```

**Cursor** — one click: [**Add to Cursor**](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=remote-desktop-commander&config=eyJ1cmwiOiAiaHR0cHM6Ly9tY3AuZGVza3RvcGNvbW1hbmRlci5hcHAvbWNwIn0=). Or add to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` manually:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "remote-desktop-commander": {
      "url": "https://mcp.desktopcommander.app/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

**VS Code** — install the agent plugin (bundles this server):

```bash
copilot plugin install desktop-commander/remote-desktop-commander
```

Or add the server directly to `.vscode/mcp.json` in your workspace (or your user-level `mcp.json`):

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

**Gemini CLI:**

```bash
gemini extensions install https://github.com/desktop-commander/remote-desktop-commander
```

### 3. Try it

These work against any machine running the agent, no setup needed:

> "List the contents of my home directory and tell me what's there."
>
> "Create a folder called ai-test in my Documents folder. Inside it, write a short Python script that prints the date, and run it."
>
> "Start a Python REPL on my machine, import pandas, and tell me which version is installed. Keep the session alive."
>
> "Search my home directory for files modified in the last 24 hours and group them by folder."

Full walkthrough with troubleshooting: [docs/SETUP.md](docs/SETUP.md)

## Requirements

- Node.js 18 or newer (for `npx`) on each computer you want to control
- One terminal running the device agent per machine
- Works on **macOS, Windows, and Linux**

## Available tools

| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| **Read & explore** | Read File, Read Multiple Files, List Directory, Get File Info |
| **Search** | Start Search, Get More Search Results, Stop Search, List Active Searches |
| **Write & edit** | Write File, Edit File Block, Move or Rename File, Create Directory, Write or Modify PDF |
| **Terminal & processes** | Start Process, Send Input to Process, Read Process Output, List Active Sessions, List System Processes, Terminate Session, Kill System Process |
| **Devices & account** | List Paired Devices, Current User Info, Ping Device, Shutdown Device Agent |
| **Configuration & help** | Get Configuration, Set Configuration Value, Get Prompt Library, Get Recent Tool Activity, Get Usage Statistics, Submit Feedback |

## How it works

```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    participant AI as AI app (web, mobile, desktop)
    participant S as mcp.desktopcommander.app
    participant D as Your computer (device agent)
    AI->>S: MCP tool call (OAuth 2.0 bearer)
    S->>D: relayed to your paired device
    D->>D: executes locally
    D->>S: result
    S->>AI: MCP response
```

- Authentication is standard **OAuth 2.0 with PKCE**; devices pair via the OAuth **device authorization flow** (the short-code approval you see at setup).
- The server only accesses data explicitly requested through tool calls; transmission is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS).
- A machine is reachable **only while its device agent is running** — stop it with `Ctrl+C` and access ends. Devices can also be reviewed and revoked at any time from the [dashboard](https://mcp.desktopcommander.app).
- Tools execute with **your user account's permissions** on the paired machine, so treat your connected AI accounts like credentials and protect them with MFA. Read the full trust model in [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md).

## Support & legal

- **Setup guide:** [docs/SETUP.md](docs/SETUP.md)
- **Bugs & feature requests:** [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/desktop-commander/remote-desktop-commander/issues) · **Contributing:** [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md)
- **Community:** [Discord](https://discord.gg/kQ27sNnZr7)
- **Security reports:** see [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md)
- **Privacy policy:** [Remote Desktop Commander privacy policy](https://legal.desktopcommander.app/#/remote_privacy_policy) · **Terms of service:** [legal.desktopcommander.app](https://legal.desktopcommander.app/#/terms_of_service)
- **License:** [LICENSE](LICENSE) — this repository holds docs and manifests only; the hosted service is proprietary

## Related

- [DesktopCommanderMCP](https://github.com/wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP) — the open-source local MCP server (npm: [`@wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander)), which also ships the `remote` device agent used for pairing
- [desktopcommander.app](https://desktopcommander.app) — product site

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