Cursor Install & Auth
Install Cursor IDE and authenticate your account. Covers all platforms, plan activation, and VS Code migration.
Installation
macOS
# Option 1: Direct download
open https://cursor.com/download
# Option 2: Homebrew
brew install --cask cursorAfter install, drag Cursor.app to Applications. First launch may require: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Allow.
Linux
# Download AppImage
curl -fSL https://download.cursor.com/linux/appImage/x64 -o cursor.AppImage
chmod +x cursor.AppImage
./cursor.AppImage
# Or via .deb (Debian/Ubuntu)
curl -fSL https://download.cursor.com/linux/deb/x64 -o cursor.deb
sudo dpkg -i cursor.debAdd to PATH for terminal launching:
# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
alias cursor='/path/to/cursor.AppImage'Windows
Download installer from cursor.com/download. Run the .exe installer. Cursor installs per-user (no admin required by default).
Authentication
First Launch Sign-In
- Launch Cursor
- Click Sign In in the welcome screen
- Choose auth method:
- GitHub (recommended for developers) - Google - Email + password
- Browser opens for OAuth flow
- Approve the authorization
- Return to Cursor -- it detects the auth automatically
Plan Activation
After sign-in, your plan is automatically active:
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 50 slow premium requests/month, Tab completions (limited) |
| Pro | $20/mo | 500 fast premium requests/month, unlimited Tab, all models |
| Business | $40/user/mo | Pro features + Privacy Mode enforced, SSO, admin dashboard |
| Enterprise | Custom | Business + SCIM, SLA, dedicated support |
Upgrade at: cursor.com/settings
VS Code Migration
On first launch, Cursor detects existing VS Code installations and offers one-click import:
What Migrates Automatically
- Settings:
settings.jsonpreferences - Keybindings: Custom keyboard shortcuts
- Extensions: Re-installs compatible extensions from Open VSX Registry
- Themes: Color themes and icon packs
- Snippets: User-defined code snippets
What Does NOT Migrate
- Microsoft-exclusive extensions: GitHub Copilot, Live Share, Remote-SSH (MS marketplace only)
- Extension state: Login states, extension-specific databases
- Workspace trust: Need to re-trust workspaces
Manual Extension Installation
For extensions not in Open VSX, install via .vsix:
- Download
.vsixfrom VS Code Marketplace website - In Cursor:
Cmd+Shift+P>Extensions: Install from VSIX... - Select the downloaded file
Post-Install Configuration Checklist
[ ] Sign in and verify plan (cursor.com/settings)
[ ] Import VS Code settings (if applicable)
[ ] Set default shell: Cursor Settings > Terminal > Default Profile
[ ] Configure privacy mode: Cursor Settings > General > Privacy Mode
[ ] Set default AI model: Cursor Settings > Models
[ ] Verify Tab completions work: type code, see ghost text
[ ] Verify Chat works: Cmd+L, ask a question
[ ] Install missing extensions from Open VSXSettings File Locations
| Platform | Settings Path |
|---|---|
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/settings.json |
| Linux | ~/.config/Cursor/User/settings.json |
| Windows | %APPDATA%\Cursor\User\settings.json |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Sign-in loop (browser redirects back) | Clear browser cookies for cursor.com, try incognito |
| "License not found" after payment | Sign out and sign back in; check email matches |
| Extensions missing after migration | Search Open VSX Registry; install via VSIX if needed |
| Cursor opens as blank window (Linux) | Try --disable-gpu flag: cursor --disable-gpu |
| Auto-update fails | Download latest installer from cursor.com/download |
Enterprise Considerations
- Domain verification: Enterprise admins verify company domain before enabling team features
- Managed deployment: Distribute Cursor via MDM (macOS) or SCCM (Windows) with pre-configured settings
- Offline install: Download the installer package for distribution behind firewalls (auth still requires network)
- SSO bypass: First login can use email/password; SSO enforcement applied after team admin configures SAML