Tmux MCP Server
Let AI assistants read, control, and observe your tmux terminal sessions, windows, and panes.
Add to your client
Copy the config for your MCP client and paste it into its config file.
npx -y tmux-mcpPaste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"tmux-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"tmux-mcp"
]
}
}
}Step-by-step guides: Add to Claude Desktop · Add to Cursor · Add to Windsurf
Before you start
- Node.js
- tmux installed and running
About Tmux MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol server that bridges Claude Desktop and tmux, allowing AI assistants to view and control terminal sessions, windows, and panes — capturing content, executing commands, and managing the tmux layout.
Tools & capabilities (13)
list-sessionsList all active tmux sessions.
find-sessionFind a tmux session by name.
list-windowsList windows in a tmux session.
list-panesList panes in a tmux window.
capture-paneCapture content from a tmux pane.
create-sessionCreate a new tmux session.
create-windowCreate a new window in a tmux session.
split-paneSplit a tmux pane horizontally or vertically with optional size.
kill-sessionKill a tmux session by ID.
kill-windowKill a tmux window by ID.
kill-paneKill a tmux pane by ID.
execute-commandExecute a command in a tmux pane (runs arbitrary commands — use at your own risk).
get-command-resultGet the result of an executed command.
When to use it
- Let an AI assistant observe long-running terminal output across tmux panes.
- Have Claude run commands in a tmux session and read back the results.
- Programmatically create, split, and arrange tmux windows and panes during a coding session.
- Inspect and search existing tmux sessions to surface relevant terminal context to the model.
Security notes
The execute-command tool runs arbitrary shell commands in your tmux panes on your local machine. The README explicitly warns to use it at your own risk. Only enable this server in trusted environments.
Tmux MCP Server FAQ
How do I install it?
Add the server to your Claude Desktop config with command "npx" and args ["-y", "tmux-mcp"]. No separate install step is required beyond having Node.js and tmux.
Can I use a shell other than bash?
Yes. Pass --shell-type to the server (e.g. "--shell-type=fish"). It defaults to bash. The shell is only needed so the server can correctly read a command's exit status when executing commands.
Is it safe to let the model execute commands?
The execute-command tool runs arbitrary commands in your tmux panes, so it can affect your machine. The README explicitly says to use it at your own risk. Only use it in environments you trust.
What resources does it expose?
tmux://sessions (all sessions), tmux://pane/{paneId} (a pane's content), and tmux://command/{commandId}/result (results from executed commands).
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