Overview of the Non‑Dirty MCP Server Restart

The Non‑Dirty MCP Server Restart is a lightweight Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that bridges the gap between Claude Desktop and the operating system’s process management. When developers use MCP to install or update tools inside Claude, those changes only take effect after the desktop client is re‑started. This server automates that re‑start step, allowing Claude to trigger a full application reload from within its own conversational flow.

At its core, the server exposes two MCP resources: a status endpoint that reports whether Claude Desktop is running, its process ID, and the timestamp of the last check; and a single tool named . The tool safely terminates any existing Claude process, launches a fresh instance, and streams progress notifications back to the user. By returning structured JSON for status queries, developers can build dashboards or monitoring scripts that react to the client’s availability without manual intervention.

For developers, this server removes a common friction point in tool‑chain automation. When an MCP installer adds new utilities or patches, the user no longer has to close and reopen Claude Desktop manually. Instead, a simple prompt such as “restart Claude” or “please restart Claude” is sufficient for the assistant to orchestrate a seamless reload. This capability is especially valuable in continuous‑integration pipelines or local development environments where rapid iteration of tool configurations is required.

Real‑world use cases include:

• Tool onboarding: A developer installs a new MCP tool via and immediately triggers a restart to make the tool available for subsequent prompts.
• Patch deployment: Updating a library or changing environment variables that affect Claude’s runtime can be followed by an automated restart, ensuring the changes take effect without user disruption.
• Automation scripts: CI/CD jobs that spin up a headless Claude instance can use the server to restart after installing dependencies, guaranteeing a clean state for each test run.

Integration is straightforward: the server is configured in Claude Desktop’s under the section. Once registered, any MCP‑enabled prompt can invoke the tool or query . The server’s progress notifications provide transparency, letting users see the restart process unfold in real time.

What sets this MCP server apart is its minimalism combined with reliability. It focuses solely on restarting the desktop client, avoiding unnecessary complexity while still offering rich feedback and status reporting. For developers who rely on MCP to extend Claude’s capabilities, this server ensures that updates are applied instantly and transparently, keeping the AI assistant in sync with the latest tool ecosystem.