Quick Start Guide

Get Desktop Commander up and running in minutes - no technical skills required

Quick Start Guide

Get Desktop Commander working with Claude Desktop in just a few minutes. This guide is designed for non-technical users who want to get started quickly.

What You’ll Need

Before we begin, make sure you have:

1. Claude Desktop - Download from claude.ai/download
2. Claude Pro or Max subscription - Required for Desktop Commander to work
3. Node.js - Download from nodejs.org (we’ll walk you through this)

Don’t worry if you’re not technical - we’ll guide you through each step!

Step 1: Install Node.js

Node.js is required to run Desktop Commander. Here’s how to install it:

Windows

1. Go to nodejs.org/download
2. Click the “Windows Installer” button to download
3. Run the downloaded file and follow the installation wizard
4. Accept all default settings - just keep clicking “Next”
5. Restart your computer when installation is complete

Mac

1. Go to nodejs.org/download
2. Click the “macOS Installer” button to download
3. Run the downloaded .pkg file
4. Follow the installation steps, accepting all defaults
5. You may need to enter your password during installation

Linux

Open Terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm

Or for other Linux distributions, visit nodejs.org for specific instructions.

Step 2: Install Desktop Commander (NPX Method)

The recommended way to install Desktop Commander is using NPX:

Windows

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt
3. Copy and paste this command:

npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup

4. Press Enter and follow the interactive setup wizard

Mac

1. Press Cmd + Space and type “Terminal”
2. Press Enter to open Terminal
3. Copy and paste this command:

npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup

4. Press Enter and follow the setup prompts

Linux

1. Open Terminal
2. Run the installation command:

npx @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest setup

3. Follow the interactive setup wizard

The setup wizard will guide you through security settings and configuration options. Choose the defaults if you’re unsure - you can change them later.

Step 3: Restart Claude Desktop

After installation is complete:

1. Close Claude Desktop completely (make sure it’s not running in the background)
2. Reopen Claude Desktop
3. Wait for it to fully load

Step 4: Test Desktop Commander

Let’s make sure everything is working:

1. Open a new chat in Claude Desktop
2. Type this message:
   Can you show me what I can do with Desktop Commander?
   
3. If Desktop Commander is working, Claude will show you a list of files and folders

Success! If you see file listings, Desktop Commander is working correctly.

What Can You Do Now?

Now that Desktop Commander is installed, here are some things you can try:

Organize Files

Ask Claude to help organize your documents, photos, or downloads folder

Analyze Data

Upload a CSV file and ask Claude to analyze it and create charts

Automate Tasks

Ask Claude to help automate repetitive file operations

Search Content

Find files containing specific text or search across your projects

Need Help?

If something didn’t work:

1. Check our Troubleshooting Guide
2. Join our Discord Community for help
3. Review the Installation Guide for detailed instructions

Next Steps

Use Cases

See practical examples of what you can do

Tools Reference

Learn about all available features

Security Settings

Customize your security preferences