Installation and startup
Common problems when installing, launching, or updating Cursor.
What if I see a blank screen on startup?
- Quit and restart Cursor
- On Mac, drag Cursor to Trash and reinstall from cursor.com/download
- On Windows, run Cursor as administrator
- Open the command palette and run Clear Editor History to reset cached state
How do I update Cursor?
From inside Cursor: press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P, type "Cursor: Attempt Update", and restart when prompted.
What are update channels?
- Stable (default): recommended for most users
- Early Access: pre-release builds with the latest features, may be less stable
Switch channels in Cursor Settings.
What does the macOS "Cursor is damaged" warning mean?
This is a macOS issue, not a corrupted download. To fix it:
First, quit Cursor and force-quit any remaining processes in Activity Monitor. Wait a minute, then reopen Cursor.
If the warning persists:
- Move Cursor to Trash and empty the Trash. Re-download from cursor.com/download
- If it still appears, restart your Mac and try again
How do I free up disk space used by Cursor?
Cursor stores cached data and extensions locally. To reclaim space:
- Remove unused extensions
- Open the command palette and run Clear Editor History