{"id":"341700b8-707e-4038-a2b5-75895bbd3706","slug":"claude-desktop-multi","kind":"mcp","name":"claude-desktop-multi","summary":"Run multiple Claude Desktop instances side by side on Windows, each with its own account/MCP/settings. One click, survives auto-updates.","owner":"sypnose-cloud","repoUrl":"https://github.com/sypnose-cloud/claude-desktop-multi","license":"MIT","licenseTier":"permissive","trust":"community","stars":19,"match":null,"fewStars":false,"format":"mcp","createdAt":"2026-05-29T15:25:18.000Z","addedAt":"2026-10-14T05:44:23.329Z","logoUrl":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/275117458?v=4","linkOnly":false,"collection":null,"skillPath":null,"categories":["utilities"],"tags":["anthropic","claude","claude-desktop","electron","multi-instance","powershell","windows","claude-ai"],"runtime":"binary","local":true,"cloudCapable":false,"cloudCapability":"unknown","cloudReadyOnPlatform":false,"needsApiKey":false,"reviewed":false,"syncedAt":"2026-10-17T07:36:24.867Z","sample":false,"url":"https://conduits.dev/tools/claude-desktop-multi","language":"PowerShell","transports":["stdio"],"install":{},"requirements":{"env":[],"upstreamMayCharge":false},"tools":null,"readme":"# Claude Desktop Multi-Instance (Windows)\n\nRun **multiple Claude Desktop instances side by side on Windows**, each with its\nown account, MCP servers, and settings — even though Claude ships as a\nsingle-instance MSIX app.\n\nOne click. Survives auto-updates. Doesn't touch your normal install.\n\n> ### 🛍️ Prefer a 1-click app with a GUI and automatic updates?\n> This repo is the DIY script route. The same author ships a polished, **free** app on the\n> Microsoft Store — dashboard, color-coded instances, setup wizard, instance updater:\n> **[Multi Instance for Claude Desktop → Microsoft Store](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9ng247tj47p0)**\n\n---\n\n## Why this is needed\n\nClaude Desktop for Windows installs as an **MSIX package** under\n`C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps`. That causes two problems if you want a second\ninstance:\n\n1. **Windows blocks launching the `.exe` directly** from `WindowsApps`\n   (`\"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file\"`). So shortcuts\n   pointing straight at the packaged exe fail.\n2. The package is built to run **one instance**. Even with Electron's\n   `--user-data-dir` flag, you can't reach the exe to pass it.\n\n**The fix:** copy Claude to a normal folder *outside* `WindowsApps`\n(`C:\\ClaudePortable`), where Windows allows direct launch, then create one\nshortcut per instance — each with its own `--user-data-dir`. Each instance gets\na fully isolated profile: separate account, separate MCP servers, separate\nCowork/settings.\n\n> This is the part most guides miss: on Windows the MSIX exe can't be launched\n> in place, so you have to run a portable copy. That's exactly what `install.ps1`\n> does, and re-running it picks up Claude's latest auto-update.\n\n---\n\n## Quick start\n\n1. **Download** this repo (green `Code` button → `Download ZIP`, then extract).\n   Or `git clone https://github.com/radelqui/claude-desktop-multi`.\n2. Double-click **`INSTALL.cmd`**. It asks for Administrator (needed once, to\n   read the protected `WindowsApps` folder) and sets up **2 extra instances**.\n3. On your Desktop you'll now have **`Claude 2`** and **`Claude 3`** shortcuts.\n\nWant a different number? Run from an **admin** PowerShell:\n\n```powershell\npowershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts\\install.ps1 -Instances 3\n```\n\n---\n\n## Logging into different accounts (important!)\n\nThe first login of each new instance must be done **one at a time, with the\nother Claude windows closed**.\n\nWhy: Claude's login opens your browser and returns to the app via a `claude://`\nlink. That link goes to whichever instance is currently open — so if several are\nopen, the login lands on the wrong one and they all end up on the same account.\n\n**Do this:**\n\n1. Close **all** Claude Desktop windows (check the system tray ▲ near the clock).\n2. Open **only `Claude 2`** → log in (Google sign-in, or email + code — any\n   method works) → finish the login.\n3. Open **`Claude 3`** → log in with a different account.\n4. Open your normal Claude (Start menu) → it keeps your main account.\n\nAfter the first login, each session persists. You can then run all of them at\nonce, in any order.\n\n---\n\n## Updating\n\nWhen Claude Desktop auto-updates, the portable copy stays on the old version.\nTo refresh it, just **run `INSTALL.cmd` again** (or `scripts\\install.ps1`).\nIt detects the new version, recopies, and your existing Desktop shortcuts keep\nworking — no need to recreate them.\n\n---\n\n## Uninstall\n\n```powershell\npowershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts\\uninstall.ps1\n```\n\nRemoves the portable copy, the `Claude N` shortcuts, and the isolated profiles.\nYour normal Claude install is left untouched. Add `-KeepProfiles` to keep your\nlogged-in instance data.\n\n---\n\n## What gets created\n\n| Path | What |\n|------|------|\n| `C:\\ClaudePortable\\` | Portable copy of Claude (launchable, outside WindowsApps) |\n| `%APPDATA%\\Claude-Instance2`, `...3`, ... | Isolated profile per instance (account, MCP, settings) |\n| `Desktop\\Claude 2.lnk`, `Claude 3.lnk` | Shortcuts that launch each instance |\n\nYour normal install and its data (`%APPDATA%\\Claude`) are never modified.\n\n---\n\n## How it works (technical)\n\n- `Get-AppxPackage *Claude*` finds the current MSIX install location (robust\n  across version bumps).\n- `robocopy /MIR` mirrors `…\\app` into `C:\\ClaudePortable`.\n- Each shortcut runs `C:\\ClaudePortable\\Claude.exe --user-data-dir=\"%APPDATA%\\Claude-InstanceN\"`.\n- Electron stores **all** per-instance state (auth tokens included) under that\n  data dir, so instances are fully independent.\n\n---\n\n## Notes & limitations\n\n- **Windows only.** On macOS use `open -n -a \"Claude.app\" --args --user-data-dir=...`;\n  on Linux invoke the AppImage/binary with the same flag — no portable copy needed\n  there.\n- Re-run after each Claude update to keep the portable copy current.\n- RAM: each instance is a full Electron app. Don't open more than you need.\n- Not affiliated with Anthropic. Use at your own discretion.\n\n---\n\n## License\n\nMIT — do whatever you want. PRs welcome.\n"}