mcp2win

Finally, MCP servers & commands that just work on Windows.

Every MCP server README assumes macOS or Linux. You copy the config, paste it in, and nothing happens — because npx, uvx, and friends are .cmd batch shims on Windows, not real executables. mcp2win fixes this by wrapping commands with cmd.exe /c so your MCP servers actually start.

Works with Claude Code/Desktop, VS Code, Cursor, Zed, Amazon Q, and Gemini CLI

Copy any install command, prefix with mcp2win, confirm — done. Or convert online at mcp2win.sh.

Quick start

No install needed — just run with npx:

# Copy an MCP server's install command, prefix with mcp2win — confirm and it runs
npx @operatorkit/mcp2win claude mcp add github-server -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github
# Shows the converted command, asks to confirm, then runs it

# Fix a config file (confirms before writing, creates .bak backup)
npx @operatorkit/mcp2win claude_desktop_config.json

# Convert inline JSON (outputs to stdout, no confirmation needed)
npx @operatorkit/mcp2win '{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@pkg"]}'

Install

If you use it often, install globally:

npm i -g @operatorkit/mcp2win

# or with go
go install github.com/operator-kit/mcp2win/cmd/mcp2win@latest

# or download a binary from https://github.com/operator-kit/mcp2win/releases

Usage

CLI command translation

Paste any provider's mcp add command — mcp2win converts it and runs it after confirmation:

# Claude — converts to add-json, confirms, runs
mcp2win claude mcp add github-server -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github
# Execute? [y]es / [n]o / [a]lways: y

# VS Code
mcp2win code --add-mcp '{"name":"my-server","command":"npx","args":["-y","@pkg"]}'

# Amazon Q
mcp2win qchat mcp add -- npx -y @pkg

# Gemini
mcp2win gemini mcp add fetch-server -- npx -y @pkg

# Skip confirmation (non-interactive / CI)
mcp2win -y claude mcp add github-server -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github

# Preview only, don't run
mcp2win --dry-run claude mcp add github-server -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github

Answering always saves your preference — no more prompts for future CLI commands.

File transformation

# Preview + confirm write (creates .bak backup)
mcp2win claude_desktop_config.json
# Write changes to claude_desktop_config.json? [y]es / [n]o / [a]lways: y

# Skip confirmation
mcp2win -y claude_desktop_config.json

# Write without backup
mcp2win -y --no-backup claude_desktop_config.json

# Write to a different file
mcp2win -y -o windows_config.json claude_desktop_config.json

# Preview only
mcp2win --dry-run claude_desktop_config.json

JSON conversion

Transform inline JSON or pipe from stdin (outputs to stdout, no confirmation):

# Inline
mcp2win '{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"]}'

# Stdin
cat claude_desktop_config.json | mcp2win

# Full config
mcp2win '{"mcpServers":{"s1":{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@pkg"]}}}'

Updating

mcp2win checks for updates in the background and notifies you when a new version is available. To update:

mcp2win update

Disable background checks with MCP2WIN_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=1.

Preferences

When you answer always at a prompt, the preference is saved. You can also manage preferences directly:

mcp2win config get                              # show all preferences
mcp2win config set always_exec_cli true         # skip CLI confirmation
mcp2win config set always_write_file true       # skip file confirmation
mcp2win config reset                            # reset all preferences
mcp2win config path                             # show config file location

Flags

Flag	Description
--yes, -y	Skip confirmation prompt (non-interactive mode)
--dry-run	Preview only, no action
--quiet	Suppress preview output
--no-backup	Skip .bak backup when writing files
-o <path>	Write output to a different file
--unwrap	Reverse: remove cmd.exe /c wrapping
--resolve	Resolve commands to absolute paths via PATH/PATHEXT
--no-color	Disable colored output

What it does

• Wraps .cmd shim commands (npx, uvx, pnpx, bunx, yarn, tsx, etc.) with cmd.exe /c
• Skips native executables (node, python, deno, bun)
• Skips HTTP/SSE transport servers
• Skips already-wrapped commands (idempotent)
• Handles Zed's nested command format
• Preserves all extra fields (env, disabled, etc.)
• Supports Claude, VS Code, Cursor, Zed, Amazon Q, and Gemini configs

License

MIT