---
title: Installation
sidebarTitle: "Installation"
---

Now that you have Node.js and your first API Key, you are ready to begin installing Task Master in one of three ways. 

<Note>Cursor Users Can Use the One Click Install Below</Note>
<Accordion title="Quick Install for Cursor 1.0+ (One-Click)">

<a href="cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=task-master-ai&config=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%3D">
  <img 
    className="block dark:hidden" 
    src="https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-light.png" 
    alt="Add Task Master MCP server to Cursor" 
    noZoom
  />
  <img 
    className="hidden dark:block" 
    src="https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-dark.png" 
    alt="Add Task Master MCP server to Cursor" 
    noZoom
  />
</a>

Or click the copy button (top-right of code block) then paste into your browser:

```text
cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=taskmaster-ai&config=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
```

> **Note:** After clicking the link, you'll still need to add your API keys to the configuration. The link installs the MCP server with placeholder keys that you'll need to replace with your actual API keys.
</Accordion>
## Installation Options


<Accordion title="Option 1: MCP (Recommended)">

MCP (Model Control Protocol) lets you run Task Master directly from your editor.

## 1. Add your MCP config at the following path depending on your editor

| Editor       | Scope   | Linux/macOS Path                      | Windows Path                                      | Key          |
| ------------ | ------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------ |
| **Cursor**   | Global  | `~/.cursor/mcp.json`                  | `%USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json`                  | `mcpServers` |
|              | Project | `<project_folder>/.cursor/mcp.json`   | `<project_folder>\.cursor\mcp.json`               | `mcpServers` |
| **Windsurf** | Global  | `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json` | `%USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json` | `mcpServers` |
| **VS Code**  | Project | `<project_folder>/.vscode/mcp.json`   | `<project_folder>\.vscode\mcp.json`               | `servers`    |

## Manual Configuration

### Cursor & Windsurf (`mcpServers`)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "taskmaster-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "task-master-ai"],
      "env": {
        "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_KEY_HERE",
        "GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_KEY_HERE",
        "MISTRAL_API_KEY": "YOUR_MISTRAL_KEY_HERE",
        "OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY_HERE",
        "XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_KEY_HERE",
        "AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_AZURE_KEY_HERE",
        "OLLAMA_API_KEY": "YOUR_OLLAMA_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

> 🔑 Replace `YOUR_…_KEY_HERE` with your real API keys. You can remove keys you don't use.

> **Note**: If you see `0 tools enabled` in the MCP settings, restart your editor and check that your API keys are correctly configured.

### Windows-specific Configuration

For Windows users without WSL, you may need to use `cmd` to run the MCP server:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "task-master-ai": {
      "command": "cmd",
      "args": ["/c", "npx -y --package=task-master-ai task-master-ai"],
      "env": {
        "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_KEY_HERE",
        "GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_KEY_HERE",
        "MISTRAL_API_KEY": "YOUR_MISTRAL_KEY_HERE",
        "OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY_HERE",
        "XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_KEY_HERE",
        "AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_AZURE_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Alternatively, you can install at the project level with Claude Code:
```bash
claude mcp add task-master-mcp -s project -- cmd /c "npx -y --package=task-master-ai task-master-ai"
```

### VS Code (`servers` + `type`)

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "taskmaster-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "task-master-ai"],
      "env": {
        "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_KEY_HERE",
        "GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_KEY_HERE",
        "MISTRAL_API_KEY": "YOUR_MISTRAL_KEY_HERE",
        "OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY_HERE",
        "XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_KEY_HERE",
        "AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_AZURE_KEY_HERE"
      },
      "type": "stdio"
    }
  }
}
```

> 🔑 Replace `YOUR_…_KEY_HERE` with your real API keys. You can remove keys you don't use.

#### 2. (Cursor-only) Enable Taskmaster MCP

Open Cursor Settings (Ctrl+Shift+J) ➡ Click on MCP tab on the left ➡ Enable task-master-ai with the toggle

#### 3. (Optional) Configure the models you want to use

In your editor's AI chat pane, say:

```txt
Change the main, research and fallback models to <model_name>, <model_name> and <model_name> respectively.
```

For example, to use Claude Code (no API key required):
```txt
Change the main model to claude-code/sonnet
```

#### 4. Initialize Task Master

In your editor's AI chat pane, say:

```txt
Initialize taskmaster-ai in my project
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Option 2: Using Command Line">

## CLI Installation

```bash
# Install globally
npm install -g task-master-ai

# OR install locally within your project
npm install task-master-ai
```

## Initialize a new project

```bash
# If installed globally
task-master init

# If installed locally
npx task-master init

# Initialize project with specific rules
task-master init --rules cursor,windsurf,vscode
```

This will prompt you for project details and set up a new project with the necessary files and structure.
</Accordion>