Windows-MCP-Server-Installation-Verification-Guide

Source

Windows MCP server setup differs from Mac by requiring absolute file paths and explicit node.exe references instead of npx commands. The installation requires verifying npm and installing packages globally to the AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules directory. Running servers needs complete paths for both node.exe and the server's index.js file.

Catalog onlyCatalog onlySTDIO

Overview

This project provides a comprehensive guide for setting up and verifying a Microsoft MCP server on Windows, focusing on distinct requirements compared to Mac setups.

Follow the step-by-step instructions outlined in the guide, starting with prerequisites checks through to execution tests.

Detailed prerequisites verification - Step-by-step installation and package checks - Execution tests with complete paths - Troubleshooting section for common installation issues

Verifying MCP server installations on Windows
Understanding differences in node package management between Windows and MacOS
Troubleshooting common installation problems quickly

Add to your AI client

Use these steps to connect Windows-MCP-Server-Installation-Verification-Guide in Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible apps. The same JSON appears in the Use with menu above for one-click copy.

Cursor

Add this to your .cursor/mcp.json file in your project root, then restart Cursor.

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

Add this server entry to the mcpServers object in your Claude Desktop config, then restart the app.

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

Add this to your project's .mcp.json file. Claude Code will detect it automatically.

.mcp.json (project root)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code (Copilot)

Add this to your .vscode/mcp.json file. Requires the GitHub Copilot extension with MCP support enabled.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

Add this to your Windsurf MCP config file, then restart Windsurf.

~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Cline

Open Cline settings, navigate to MCP Servers, and add this server configuration.

Cline MCP Settings (via UI)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-windows-mcp-server-installation-verification-guide-trevorwilkerson"
      ]
    }
  }
}

FAQ

What are the main installation differences between Windows and MacOS?

Windows requires absolute file paths and the explicit use of node.exe, unlike Mac which can use npx commands.

How do I check if npm is installed?

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run `npm --version` to verify.

What should I do if I encounter a `MODULE_NOT_FOUND` error?

Verify your installation and ensure all paths match exactly. Run `npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking` if needed.

Research and data