How to control a Windows PC from a Claude chat

Published 9 August 2026 · 8 min read · by Protime

The short answer: install an MCP server on the Windows computer you want to control, add its address to Claude as a custom connector, and start typing instructions in a normal chat. With MCP DeskManager by Protime the whole setup takes about ten minutes, requires no port forwarding and no fixed IP, and works from claude.ai, Claude Desktop and the Claude mobile app. This guide walks through every step.

What you need

A PC with Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11 and an internet connection — this is the machine Claude will control.
A Claude.ai account with support for custom connectors. You do not need Claude Code.
MCP DeskManager — download the installer here. A license token is delivered by email after checkout.

Step 1 — Install DeskManager on the PC

Run the installer on the computer you want to control and follow the wizard. During setup DeskManager creates its own encrypted Cloudflare tunnel with a unique 20-character address, so the PC is reachable from the internet without opening ports on your router and without exposing your IP address. When the wizard finishes you get two things: the connector URL and your access credentials (access key or OAuth).

A watchdog keeps the tunnel alive: if the PC reboots or the connection drops, everything reconnects on its own.

Step 2 — Add the connector to Claude

Open claude.ai → Settings → Connectors (the same section exists in Claude Desktop).
Choose Add custom connector and paste the URL from step 1.
Approve the connection. The 13 DeskManager tools now appear in every new chat, on every device where you use that Claude account — including your phone.

That is the whole integration. There is nothing to keep running on the device you chat from: the connector lives on your Claude account, the software lives on the PC.

Step 3 — Talk to your computer

Open a new chat and ask for what you want in plain language. Real examples that work on day one:

"Open a terminal on my PC, go to D:\Projects and run the test suite. Send me a Telegram message when it finishes."

"Find every PDF larger than 10 MB in my Downloads folder and list them by size."

"Open our management software, export this month's invoices and email me the file."

Claude decides which tools to use — terminal, file system, browser or desktop automation — shows you what it is doing, and asks for confirmation before anything destructive.

What Claude can actually do once connected

Persistent terminal — PowerShell and CMD sessions that survive between messages, with parallel tabs and background jobs.
Full file system — read, write, search and edit files with automatic versioning of every change.
Two browsers — a dedicated headless Chrome for research and scraping, plus your real Chrome with your logins when you ask for it.
Desktop applications — Windows UI Automation reads the accessibility tree, so Claude can click through Excel, Outlook or legacy software without fragile screenshots.
Telegram alerts — instant messages, file delivery, keyword watchers on long jobs, scheduled timers.
Email, monitoring, screenshots — IMAP/SMTP mail, live CPU/RAM/GPU/disk stats and full-desktop captures.

Sessions that survive and travel

Every terminal session has a session code. The working directory, environment variables and running processes stay alive between messages — and if you open a brand-new chat tomorrow, pasting that code resumes exactly where you left off. Long builds, migrations and deployments do not care which conversation they started in.

Is it safe?

Three layers: a unique 20-character URL that cannot be guessed, an access key or OAuth on top of it, and Cloudflare-encrypted transport end to end. Destructive operations (deleting files, killing processes) require explicit approval, and Protime is never in the data path — traffic flows directly between Claude and your PC through the tunnel. Details are in our privacy policy.

Troubleshooting quick hits

Connector not showing tools? Remove and re-add the connector, then start a new chat — tools load per conversation.
PC went offline? Check that it is powered on; the watchdog restores the tunnel within a minute of the network returning.
License expired? The software pauses but keeps your data; renewing reactivates it instantly.

FAQ

Can I control my PC from the Claude mobile app?

Yes. Once the connector is on your Claude account it works everywhere Claude works. The PC does the heavy lifting; your phone just carries the conversation.

Does the PC need to stay on?

Yes — the controlled computer must be on and online. DeskManager reconnects automatically after reboots.

Do I need Claude Code or a Max plan?

No. A regular Claude.ai account with custom connector support is enough.

Ready to try it on your own PC? Setup takes about ten minutes.

Get DeskManager Download