Installation

15 min beginner

What You'll Accomplish

  • Download and install Cursor on your machine
  • Migrate settings and extensions from VS Code (if applicable)
  • Choose and configure your AI model
  • Verify everything works with a quick test
NOTE
Tool Version
This lesson reflects Cursor as of mid-2026 (v3.x). Cursor updates frequently — if anything doesn't match your UI, check cursor.com/docs for the latest.

Before You Begin

You'll need:

  • A computer with macOS, Windows, or Linux
  • An internet connection for download and AI features
  • (Optional) Existing VS Code installation to migrate from

Step 1: Download Cursor

  1. Visit cursor.com and click Download
  2. Open the downloaded .dmg file
  3. Drag Cursor to your Applications folder
  4. Open Cursor from Applications

On first launch, macOS may ask you to confirm since it's from an identified developer. Click Open.

  1. Visit cursor.com and click Download
  2. Run the downloaded .exe installer
  3. Follow the installation wizard (defaults are fine)
  4. Launch Cursor from the Start menu

Step 2: Sign In and Choose Your Plan

On first launch, Cursor will ask you to create an account or sign in:

  1. Create account with email or GitHub
  2. Choose a plan:
    • Hobby (Free): Limited Agent and Tab completion requests (no credit card required)
    • Pro ($20/mo): Extended Agent limits, full features
    • Pro+ ($60/mo): 3x Pro limits
    • Ultra ($200/mo): 20x Pro limits

You can start with Hobby and upgrade later. Agent mode is available on all plans.

Step 3: Migrate from VS Code (Optional)

If you have VS Code installed, Cursor will offer to import:

  • Extensions — all your VS Code extensions transfer
  • Settings — keybindings, theme, preferences
  • Snippets — custom code snippets

Select what you want to import. This is a one-time process — after migration, Cursor operates independently from VS Code.

TIP
Tip
Import everything initially. You can always remove extensions later. It's easier to start with your familiar setup and add Cursor's AI features on top.

Step 4: Configure Your AI Model

Go to Cursor Settings → Models:

  • Claude Sonnet — fast, great for most tasks (recommended default)
  • Claude Opus — most capable, use for complex tasks
  • Cursor's built-in models — Cursor Composer 2.5 (coding-optimized)

You can switch models per conversation, so don't worry about choosing wrong.

Step 5: Verify Installation

Open any project folder in Cursor and test the AI:

  1. Press Cmd+L (Mac) or Ctrl+L (Windows) to open the AI side pane
  2. Type: "What files are in this project?"
  3. Press Enter

If you get a response describing your project, everything is working.

WARNING
Watch Out
If you see a rate limit error, you may have exceeded the Hobby tier for the day. Wait until the limit resets or upgrade to Pro.

Key Takeaways

  • Cursor installs like any desktop application
  • Migration from VS Code is seamless and optional
  • Agent mode is available on all plans (including free Hobby tier)
  • Choose Claude Sonnet as your default model
  • Cmd+L (Mac) / Ctrl+L (Windows) opens the AI side pane

Next up: Lesson 1 — The Cursor Interface where we'll explore what makes Cursor different from VS Code.