Cursor IDE CLI - New Window (-n) & Agent Flags

Cursor is the VS Code-based AI editor; its CLI and cursor-agent target developers who open projects quickly, manage windows/extensions, and want editor + AI capability inside scripts. Unlike a plain editor CLI, Cursor adds in-editor AI coding and the headless-callable cursor-agent. This sheet covers opening/comparing files from the terminal, agent automation, and git editor integration.

AI CLI·38 commands·Last updated 2026-08-05

Open Files & Folders 6

cursor .

Open the current directory as a workspace

cursor /path/to/file.ts

Open a specific file

cursor /path/to/file.ts:42

Open a file and jump to line 42

cursor /path/to/file.ts:42:10

Jump to a specific line and column

cursor /path/to/project

Open an entire folder

cursor file1.ts file2.ts file3.ts

Open multiple files at once

Window Management 6

cursor -n /path/to/project

Open in a new window (--new-window)

cursor -r /path/to/file

Reuse an already-open window (--reuse-window)

cursor -w /path/to/file

Wait for the window to close (--wait, good as git editor)

cursor --merge

Merge all windows into a single window

cursor --add /path/to/folder

Add a folder to the current workspace (--add/-a)

cursor --locale zh-TW

Specify the UI locale

Diff & Merge 2

cursor -d file1.ts file2.ts

Compare two files side by side (--diff)

cursor -m base.ts mine.ts theirs.ts out.ts

Three-way merge (--merge)

Extension Management 4

cursor --list-extensions

List installed extensions

cursor --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode

Install a specific extension

cursor --uninstall-extension <id>

Uninstall a specific extension

cursor --disable-extensions

Launch with all extensions disabled

Rendering & Performance 7

cursor --disable-gpu

Disable GPU hardware acceleration

cursor --disable-hardware-acceleration

Disable hardware-accelerated rendering

cursor --user-data-dir /path/to/data

Custom user data directory

cursor --extensions-dir /path/to/ext

Custom extensions directory

cursor --max-memory 4096

Cap maximum memory (MB)

cursor --verbose /path/to/file

Enable verbose logging

cursor --status

Print process usage info

Remote Development 5

cursor --remote ssh-remote+host

Connect to a configured SSH remote

cursor --folder-uri vscode-remote://ssh-remote+host/path

Open a remote folder URI

cursor --file-uri vscode-remote://.../file.ts

Open a remote file URI

cursor --proxy-server http://proxy:8080

Use a proxy server

cursor --no-proxy-server

Do not use a proxy

Debug & Diagnostics 5

cursor --inspect

Enable debugging (default port 9229)

cursor --inspect-brk

Enable debugging and pause on first line

cursor --log error

Set log level: trace/debug/info/warn/error/critical

cursor --log-file /tmp/cursor.log

Specify a log file path

cursor --enable-proposed-api

Enable an extension's proposed API

Cursor Agent & Git Integration 3

cursor-agent -p "your question" --mode=ask --output-format text

Call Cursor Agent non-interactively (ask/code modes)

git config --global core.editor "cursor --wait"

Set Cursor as the git commit-message editor

cursor --goto file.py:128

Jump to a specific line in a file (--goto)

Tips

Open projects fast from the terminal: cursor . beats clicking; compare changes with cursor -d a.ts b.ts for an instant diff view.
Set Cursor as the git editor (core.editor "cursor --wait") and the commit editor pops up with line numbers, resuming when you close it.
In CI/scripts use --wait with diff or editor calls so the command blocks until the window closes, chaining steps cleanly.
Cursor Agent can be called non-interactively with cursor-agent -p, good for ask/code automation inside pipelines.

FAQ

How do I use Cursor as the git commit message editor?

Run git config --global core.editor "cursor --wait". The --wait flag makes git launch Cursor and block until you save and close, so you can write the commit message in the editor. Similarly, core.diffeditor is useful for reviewing diffs. It is the simplest way to wire your editor into the git workflow.

When is cursor -w required?

-w / --wait blocks until the window closes before returning. Add it whenever a later step depends on work you finish inside the editor — writing a commit message, editing a rebase todo list, or confirming something in a GUI. Plain file opening does not need it, and adding it there just hangs your shell.

What is the difference between ask and code modes in cursor-agent?

ask answers questions without modifying files, which suits code analysis or proposing a plan. code actually reads and writes files and runs commands. From the CLI: cursor-agent -p "your question" --mode=ask --output-format text. Adding --output-format text yields plain text that is easy for scripts to capture.

Cursor starts slowly or uses too much memory — what can I do?

First isolate the cause with --disable-extensions to see whether an extension is responsible, and cap usage with --max-memory 4096. On large monorepos, try --disable-gpu or --disable-hardware-acceleration to rule out rendering cost. Also count how many workspaces you have open. --user-data-dir and --extensions-dir let you test an isolated profile without touching your daily configuration.

How do I open a project on a remote server?

cursor --remote ssh-remote+host attaches to a configured SSH host and opens the workspace there, so the host must already work in your SSH config. You can also target a directory with --folder-uri vscode-remote://ssh-remote+host/path or a single file with --file-uri vscode-remote://.../file.ts. If it fails, verify plain ssh host works first.

Official References

Each command links to its official documentation below, so you can verify the latest usage and read deeper.

Cursor CLI Docs

Maintained by LaoHand

Publicly updated on Aug 5, 2026, continuously proofread against official docs.

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