Can I use Cursor in offline mode?
Offline capabilities and limitations
Cursor is built on the VS Code foundation, so core editing features such as syntax highlighting, file navigation, and local version control work offline. However, the AI features that make Cursor unique—like Copilot-style code suggestions, chat with your codebase, and AI-powered refactoring—rely on cloud-based models and therefore need an internet connection.
If you're offline, you can still write and edit code, use extensions that don't require network access, and run local builds. But you won't be able to use AI assistance until you reconnect.
- Basic editing, file management, and local Git operations work offline.
- AI features (completion, chat, edit) require internet.
- Extensions that depend on online services won't work offline.
- Cursor may cache some data, but AI responses are not available.
Workarounds for limited connectivity
If you have intermittent connectivity, Cursor may queue some requests and process them when you're back online. However, there's no true offline mode for AI features. For environments with strict network restrictions, you might consider using a local model via an extension, but Cursor's native AI won't function without internet.
Some users set up a local proxy or use a VPN to maintain a stable connection to Cursor's servers. This can help in corporate networks with firewalls.
Common mistakes
- Expecting full AI functionality without an internet connection; Cursor's AI features are cloud-based.
- Assuming that offline mode is a built-in toggle; there is no explicit offline mode, just natural limitations when disconnected.
- Thinking that all extensions work offline; many require network access.
