How do I set up Cursor on a new computer?
Installation steps
Go to cursor.com and click the download button. Choose the version for your operating system—Windows, macOS, or Linux. Run the installer and follow the prompts. On first launch, Cursor will ask you to sign in or create an account. You can use email, Google, or GitHub.
After signing in, Cursor may offer to import settings, extensions, and keybindings from VS Code. If you use VS Code, this makes the transition seamless. If not, you can skip this step.
Configuring AI features
Cursor's AI features work out of the box with a free tier that includes a limited number of requests. For more usage, you can subscribe to a Pro plan or add your own OpenAI API key in Settings > AI. The exact pricing and limits change over time, so check the website for current details.
You can also adjust AI settings like model choice (e.g., GPT-4, Claude) and whether to enable codebase indexing. Indexing helps the AI understand your project better but may take time on large codebases.
- Sign in to sync settings across devices.
- Import from VS Code to keep your setup.
- Set up API keys if you prefer your own.
- Adjust AI model and indexing preferences.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to sign in, which limits AI features to the free tier.
- Skipping the VS Code import and manually reconfiguring everything.
- Assuming all extensions from VS Code will work perfectly; some may have compatibility issues.
