Windows Terminal MCP Server

What is Windows Terminal MCP Server?

Windows Terminal MCP Server is a REST API server that executes Windows terminal commands. It can be run locally or in a Docker container and supports a secure mode with a restricted set of commands. Designed for developers and administrators who need remote or automated command execution on Windows.

How to use Windows Terminal MCP Server?

Clone the repository, configure an API key via a .env file or environment variable, then launch using the provided batch scripts or manually with npm start. The server exposes endpoints at POST /execute and POST /execute-safe (secure mode) along with a health check at GET /health. All requests (except health) require the x-api-key header.

Key features of Windows Terminal MCP Server

• REST API to execute arbitrary Windows commands
• Secure mode limiting commands to a safe subset
• Deployable locally or inside a Windows Docker container
• API‑key authentication for access control
• Health-check endpoint for monitoring
• Test script included to verify API functionality

Use cases of Windows Terminal MCP Server

• Remotely run Windows CLI commands from any HTTP client
• Integrate terminal execution into automation scripts or CI/CD pipelines
• Securely expose limited command execution (e.g., dir, systeminfo) to other services
• Containerized deployment for isolated command execution in Windows environments

FAQ from Windows Terminal MCP Server

Why is an API key required?

The API key prevents unauthorized access to the terminal. It must be set via environment variable or configuration before starting the server.

What are the runtime requirements for local deployment?

Node.js 14.x or higher and npm 6.x or higher are required. For Docker, Windows 10/11 with Docker Desktop configured for Windows containers is needed.

What commands are allowed in secure mode?

Only dir, echo, type, ver, systeminfo, and tasklist are permitted in the execute-safe endpoint.

Can the server be exposed to the internet?

The README advises against exposing the server to external networks without additional security measures and recommends using a strong, unique API key.

Which transport and authentication methods are used?

The server communicates via HTTP and authenticates every non‑health request using an API key passed in the x-api-key header.