Cursor How-To Guides
Get more out of the Cursor editor. These guides walk through installing it, importing your VS Code setup, writing rules, indexing a codebase, and using tab and the AI panels well.
Setup & Rules
How to Install Cursor and Import VS Code Settings (6 Minutes)
Install Cursor and import your VS Code settings in one step: download the app, run the built-in import, and confirm your extensions and theme carried over.
Cursor Setup Guide: From Install to Your First AI Edit
Install Cursor, bring over your VS Code settings and extensions, pick a model, and make your first AI edit with Tab, the Agent, and a project rule.
How to Set Up Project Rules in the .cursor/rules Folder
Create scoped, versioned project rules so Cursor follows your stack conventions on every request without you repeating yourself.
How to Set Up Codebase Indexing in Cursor
Build and manage the codebase index so Cursor can find relevant code across your whole repo, and exclude what it should ignore.
How to Enforce Project Conventions with Cursor Rules
Write project rules in .cursor/rules so the agent follows your conventions on every multi-file edit.
How to Write a Team Rule That Applies Only to Certain Files
Use glob patterns in a .mdc rule so a convention attaches to just the files it governs, like tests or API routes.
How to Migrate a Legacy .cursorrules File to the New Rules Folder
Convert a single root .cursorrules file into scoped .mdc rules so you get globs, multiple files and per-rule control.
How to Use Cursor Rules to Guide AI Edits
Add a project rules file so Cursor follows your conventions and stack on every AI edit without being told each time.
How to Set Project Rules in Cursor
Add a project rules file so Cursor follows your conventions on every edit instead of relying on per-prompt reminders.
How to Add a .cursorrules File to Steer Cursor
Drop a rules file at your repo root so Cursor follows your stack and conventions without you repeating them in chat.
How to Customize Cursor Keyboard Shortcuts
Open the keyboard shortcuts editor, rebind a conflicting key, and tweak the AI command keys to suit your hands.
Editing & Chat
How to Edit Multiple Files at Once with Cursor Composer
Use Cursor Composer to plan and apply a single change across several files in one reviewable pass.
How to Use Cursor Tab Completion Effectively
Learn how Cursor Tab predicts multi-line edits and jumps, and how to accept, partially accept or dismiss its suggestions.
How to Edit Code Inline with Cmd+K in Cursor
Use the inline edit prompt to rewrite a selection in place, generate new code, and review the diff before accepting.
How to Add Context to Cursor Chat with @ Mentions
Pull files, folders, symbols, docs and the web into a request with @ so the model answers about your actual code.
How to Choose and Switch AI Models in Cursor
Pick the right model per task, switch it from the chat box, and understand what Auto mode does for you.
How to Add Library Docs as Context with @Docs in Cursor
Index a library's documentation in Cursor so the agent answers with current, accurate API details.
How to Generate and Maintain Tests with Cursor Composer
Have Composer write a test file for a module and update it across files when the implementation changes.
How to Undo a Composer Change with Checkpoints in Cursor
Use Cursor's Composer checkpoints to roll back a multi-file edit to any earlier point in the conversation.
Agent, MCP & Refactoring
How to Use Cursor Agent Mode to Build a Feature End to End
Drive Agent mode to plan, edit multiple files, run commands and iterate, while you stay in control of every change.
How to Connect an MCP Server to Cursor
Add a Model Context Protocol server to Cursor so the agent can use external tools like a database or a filesystem.
How to Refactor Across Your Whole Codebase in Cursor
Use codebase-wide context and Composer to apply a structural refactor that spans many files at once.
How to Query Your Database from Cursor with a Postgres MCP Server
Wire a Postgres MCP server into Cursor so the agent can inspect your schema and run read-only queries.
How to Let Cursor Run Commands Automatically (and Keep It Safe)
Enable auto-run for the Cursor agent and set an allow and deny list so it executes tests without risky commands.
How to Build a Full Feature Across Frontend and Backend with Composer
Plan and implement an end-to-end feature touching API, types, and UI in a single Composer session.
How to Debug an MCP Server That Will Not Connect in Cursor
Diagnose a red or failing MCP server in Cursor and get its tools showing up to the agent again.