How to add Tmux MCP Server to Cursor

Let AI assistants read, control, and observe your tmux terminal sessions, windows, and panes. Paste the config into ~/.cursor/mcp.json and restart Cursor.

Last updated June 14, 2026 · 292★ · stdio · no auth

Cursor config for Tmux MCP Server

npx -y tmux-mcp

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tmux-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "tmux-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

1Open Cursor → Settings → MCP → Add new MCP server (or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json directly).
2Paste the Tmux MCP Server config below into the "mcpServers" object.
3Fill in placeholder secrets, then save.
4Cursor reloads MCP servers automatically — check Settings → MCP for a green status dot.
5Ask Cursor to use one of Tmux MCP Server's tools to confirm it's connected.

Before you start

Node.js
tmux installed and running

What Tmux MCP Server can do in Cursor

list-sessions

List all active tmux sessions.

find-session

Find a tmux session by name.

list-windows

List windows in a tmux session.

list-panes

List panes in a tmux window.

capture-pane

Capture content from a tmux pane.

create-session

Create a new tmux session.

create-window

Create a new window in a tmux session.

split-pane

Split a tmux pane horizontally or vertically with optional size.

Security

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 + Cursor FAQ

Where is the Cursor config file?

Cursor reads MCP servers from ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Paste the Tmux MCP Server config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is Tmux MCP Server safe to use with Cursor?

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.

View repo Full Tmux MCP Server page