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Get StartedSetupWindows environment setup

Windows environment setup

Set up Arcade CLI on Windows using uv (recommended), with optional pip fallback guidance.

Before you start

  • Windows with PowerShell
  • Python 3.10 or later
  • Internet access for package download

Validate which commands exist on your machine:

Terminal
uv --version
python3 --version
command -v arcade || true

If both python and py are missing, the pip-only instructions will fail until you install Python and add it to PATH.

Install uv

Use one of the following methods.

Terminal
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
uv --version

Optional binary package managers on Windows

winget, scoop, and choco are optional convenience methods. Keep them secondary to official install instructions.

Terminal
winget --version
winget install --id=astral-sh.uv -e

Global install

Terminal
uv tool install --upgrade arcade-mcp
arcade -v
command -v arcade

Virtual environment install

Terminal
uv venv .venv
uv pip install --python .venv/bin/python arcade-mcp
.venv/bin/arcade -v

Optional activation:

Terminal
source .venv/bin/activate
arcade -v

Install without uv (pip fallback)

Use this only if uv is unavailable.

Terminal
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install arcade-mcp
arcade -v

-level install:

Terminal
python3 -m pip install --user arcade-mcp
arcade -v

Validate your installation

Run these after install:

Terminal
arcade -v
arcade --help
arcade mcp --help

If validating a venv without activation:

Terminal
.venv/bin/arcade -v

Troubleshoot Windows setup

uv not found

Terminal
$env:Path = "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin;$env:Path"
uv --version

arcade resolves to a venv instead of global install

Terminal
Get-Command arcade

If this points to .venv\Scripts\arcade.exe, open a new shell or deactivate the venv before validating global install.

Execution policy blocks Activate.ps1

Terminal
Get-ExecutionPolicy -List | Format-Table -AutoSize
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
. ".venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1"

Install takes longer than expected

The first install can download many dependencies. This is normal on fresh environments.

Docs mention brew install commands

Some Arcade docs include brew commands for macOS examples. On native Windows, prefer winget, scoop, or choco.

If you are following a guide that uses Homebrew, treat it as optional unless you are using WSL or Git Bash with Homebrew.

Next steps

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