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Importing Extensions and Settings from VSCode

tip

Cursor is built on VSCode's core, which means you can bring your favorite VSCode extensions and settings with you!

Quick Guide​

  1. Find your VSCode settings location:

    • Windows: %APPDATA%\Code\User\
    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/
    • Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/

  2. Copy these files to Cursor:

    • Windows: %APPDATA%\Cursor\User\
    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/
    • Linux: ~/.config/Cursor/User/

Detailed Steps​

1. Locating Your VSCode Settings​

First, you need to locate your VSCode settings files. The most important files are:

  • settings.json - Contains your personalized settings
  • keybindings.json - Contains your custom keyboard shortcuts
  • extensions folder - Contains your installed extensions
note

If you're using VSCode Insiders, the folder will be Code - Insiders instead of Code

2. Copying Settings to Cursor​

You have two options:

  1. Create the Cursor settings directory if it doesn't exist
  2. Copy settings.json and keybindings.json
  3. Copy the contents of the extensions folder

3. Verifying Extensions​

After copying, you should:

  1. Restart Cursor
  2. Open the Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X)
  3. Check that your extensions are listed
  4. Reinstall any extensions that didn't transfer correctly
caution

Some extensions might need to be reinstalled manually if they were installed from the marketplace

Common Issues and Solutions​

Extensions Not Showing Up​

If extensions don't appear after copying:

  1. Check the extension installation location
  2. Verify file permissions
  3. Try manually reinstalling the extension

Settings Not Applied​

If your settings aren't being applied:

  1. Check for syntax errors in settings.json
  2. Ensure the settings are compatible with Cursor
  3. Try restarting Cursor

Keybindings Conflicts​

If you experience keybinding conflicts:

  1. Open keybindings.json
  2. Look for duplicate shortcuts
  3. Resolve conflicts by removing or modifying conflicting bindings

Best Practices​

  1. Backup First: Always backup your original VSCode settings before copying
  2. Start Clean: Consider starting with a fresh Cursor installation
  3. Selective Import: Import only the extensions and settings you actually use
  4. Test Extensions: Test each critical extension after importing