Cursor is a fork of VS Code with built-in AI superpowers, so switching from VS Code to Cursor is one of the easiest IDE migrations you’ll ever do. Most of your settings, themes, and keybindings transfer in under five minutes.
This guide walks you through the full migration: installation, settings import, extension parity, AI features to enable on day 1, and how to safely run both editors side by side while you adjust.
Why Switch?
Before the steps, the honest case for switching:
- Tab autocomplete is sharper. Cursor’s tab predictions catch multi-line patterns that GitHub Copilot misses.
- Composer rewrites across files. Highlight code, describe a change, watch it apply across 5 files in one shot.
- Chat understands your codebase. No more pasting 200 lines into ChatGPT.
- No re-learning. Every shortcut, every theme, every command works the same.
If you’re undecided, see our comparisons: Cursor vs Claude Code and Windsurf vs Cursor.
Step 1: Download and Install Cursor
- Go to cursor.com and download the installer for your OS.
- Install Cursor. Do not delete VS Code yet — keep both during the transition.
- Launch Cursor.
Step 2: Import VS Code Settings
On first launch, Cursor shows a one-click import prompt. Click Use VS Code Settings to bring over:
- All extensions
- Keybindings
- User settings (
settings.json) - Themes and icon themes
- Snippets
If you miss the prompt, you can trigger it later: Command Palette → “Cursor: Import VS Code Settings”.
What doesn’t import:
- Workspace-specific settings (you’ll re-set them per project)
- Some extensions with native dependencies (e.g. C# Dev Kit, Live Server)
- Remote-SSH connections (re-add them manually)
Step 3: Sign In and Pick a Plan
Cursor’s free tier gives you 50 slow-completion requests/month. Most developers exhaust it within a week. Cursor Pro is $20/month and unlocks unlimited completions plus 500 fast premium model requests.
Sign up at cursor.com, then sign in inside the app via Cursor Settings → Account.
Step 4: Enable AI Features
Open Cursor Settings → Features. Make sure these are on:
- ✅ Tab autocomplete
- ✅ Cursor Tab (multi-line predictions)
- ✅ Codebase indexing
- ✅ Privacy Mode (recommended — your code is never used for training)
Then in Models, pick a default. As of 2026 the strongest options are:
- Claude Sonnet 4.6 for refactors and architecture
- GPT-5 for general tasks
- Cursor Small for fast inline edits
Step 5: Index Your Codebase
For chat and Composer to answer codebase-specific questions, Cursor needs to index your repo. Open a project, then Cursor Settings → Features → Codebase Indexing and click Index.
Indexing typically takes 1–5 minutes depending on repo size. Files are vectorized locally; only hashed embeddings are uploaded.
Step 6: Learn the Three Core AI Shortcuts
If you only memorize three shortcuts, make them these:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+L / Ctrl+L | Open chat in sidebar |
Cmd+K / Ctrl+K | Inline edit (select code first) |
Cmd+I / Ctrl+I | Open Composer (multi-file edits) |
Spend day 1 forcing yourself to use them.
Step 7: Handle Common Issues
“My GitHub Copilot subscription is still active.” Disable Copilot in Cursor (it’ll conflict with Cursor’s tab). Keep your sub for VS Code if you’re still using both.
“My remote SSH stopped working.” Cursor uses its own SSH remote. Re-add hosts via Remote-SSH: Connect to Host.
“My settings sync was on in VS Code.” Cursor has its own settings sync via your Cursor account. Enable it under Cursor Settings → General → Settings Sync.
“An extension is broken.” Check the Cursor extension compatibility list. Most extensions work; a few with deep VS Code internals (like Dev Containers) need updates.
Step 8: Migrate Your Workflow Gradually
You don’t have to fully switch on day 1. A common pattern:
- Week 1: Open Cursor for one personal project. Use VS Code for daily work.
- Week 2: Start one Composer session per day on your main project.
- Week 3: Make Cursor the default. Open VS Code only when an extension breaks.
- Week 4: Uninstall VS Code or keep it for emergencies.
Should You Keep VS Code?
For most developers, yes — for at least a month. Some specific cases where VS Code is still useful:
- C# / .NET development with C# Dev Kit
- Some Microsoft Live Share or Azure-specific extensions
- Working on the VS Code codebase itself
For everything else, Cursor is now ahead.
Other Options to Consider
Cursor isn’t the only AI-native IDE in 2026. Also consider:
- Windsurf — free tier is better, but slightly slower agent (Windsurf for beginners guide)
- Zed — fast, lightweight, getting AI features in 2026
- JetBrains AI Assistant — best for JetBrains-heavy teams
See our list of the best AI coding tools for solo developers for full context.
Final Take
Switching from VS Code to Cursor in 2026 is mostly a non-event. Your shortcuts, theme, and extensions follow you. The only real cost is $20/month and a week of remembering to press Cmd+L. Most developers report 20–40% productivity gains within a month — easy ROI.