> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.task-master.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 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 theme={null}
  cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=taskmaster-ai&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IiwiYXJncyI6WyIteSIsIi0tcGFja2FnZT10YXNrLW1hc3Rlci1haSIsInRhc2stbWFzdGVyLWFpIl0sImVudiI6eyJBTlRIUk9QSUNfQVBJX0tFWSI6IllPVVJfQU5USFJPUElDX0FQSV9LRVlfSEVSRSIsIlBFUlBMRVhJVFlfQVBJX0tFWSI6IllPVVJfUEVSUExFWElUWV9BUElfS0VZX0hFUkUiLCJPUEVOQUlfQVBJX0tFWSI6IllPVVJfT1BFTkFJX0tFWV9IRVJFIiwiR09PR0xFX0FQSV9LRVkiOiJZT1VSX0dPT0dMRV9LRVlfSEVSRSIsIk1JU1RSQUxfQVBJX0tFWSI6IllPVVJfTUlTVFJBTF9LRVlfSEVSRSIsIk9QRU5ST1VURVJfQVBJX0tFWSI6IllPVVJfT1BFTlJPVVRFUl9LRVlfSEVSRSIsIlhBSV9BUElfS0VZIjoiWU9VUl9YQUlfS0VZX0hFUkUiLCJBWlVSRV9PUEVOQUlfQVBJX0tFWSI6IllPVVJfQVpVUkVfS0VZX0hFUkUiLCJPTExBTUFfQVBJX0tFWSI6IllPVVJfT0xMQU1BX0FQSV9LRVlfSEVSRSJ9fQo=
  ```

  > **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.

  ### Claude Code Quick Install

  For Claude Code users:

  ```bash theme={null}
  claude mcp add taskmaster-ai -- npx -y task-master-ai
  ```

  Don't forget to add your API keys to the configuration:

  * in the root .env of your Project
  * in the "env" section of your mcp config for taskmaster-ai
</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 theme={null}
  {
    "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.

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

  ```json theme={null}
  {
    "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 theme={null}
  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 theme={null}
  Change the main model to claude-code/sonnet
  ```

  #### 4. Initialize Task Master

  In your editor's AI chat pane, say:

  ```txt theme={null}
  Initialize taskmaster-ai in my project
  ```
</Accordion>

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

  ```bash theme={null}
  # Install globally
  npm install -g task-master-ai

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

  ## Initialize a new project

  ```bash theme={null}
  # 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>