# list_windows

A read tool on the Desktop Commander MCP Server MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_windows`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/list-windows

## Facts

- Tool: `list_windows`
- Server: Desktop Commander MCP Server (`19miha99/system-monitor-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/19miha99/system-monitor-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade D, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "list_windows",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_windows is rated Low

This tool retrieves/enumerates open windows on the desktop without modifying them. It is a Read operation. Severity is medium rather than low because window lists could reveal sensitive application activity to an AI agent, but there are no destructive or execution implications. Confidence is high due to clear naming convention and server context, despite the empty description.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'list_windows' indicates retrieval of window information. Server description confirms it 'monitor system resources' and 'manage windows', with sibling tools like 'get_process_details', 'get_display_info' that are clearly Read operations."

## Use case

AI agents call list_windows to retrieve information from Desktop Commander MCP Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Desktop Commander MCP Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_windows": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Desktop Commander MCP Server (22)

- `kill_process` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/kill-process.md
- `focus_window` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/focus-window.md
- `launch_application` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/launch-application.md
- `set_window_state` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/set-window-state.md
- `arrange_window` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/arrange-window.md
- `capture_screenshot` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/capture-screenshot.md
- `find_process_by_port` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/find-process-by-port.md
- `get_battery_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-battery-status.md
- `get_cpu_per_core` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-cpu-per-core.md
- `get_display_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-display-info.md
- `get_network_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-network-stats.md
- `get_process_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-process-details.md
- `get_startup_programs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-startup-programs.md
- `get_system_overview` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-system-overview.md
- `get_temperatures` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-temperatures.md
- `get_top_consumers` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-top-consumers.md
- `list_processes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/list-processes.md
- `read_clipboard` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/read-clipboard.md
- `search_installed_apps` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/search-installed-apps.md
- `close_window` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/close-window.md
- `send_notification` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/send-notification.md
- `write_clipboard` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/write-clipboard.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=19miha99-system-monitor-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp