Hey, love the new agents window, but I feel like my main usage of Cursor always involves the file explorer and files, which is the main difference versus using Claude or Codex apps.
I really wish that we could customize the layout windows so that we can move the file explorer tree to the left and keep the agents, like the chats, to the right, stuff like that.
I understand that the main focus is on agents here and to be similar to Claude and Codex, but 90% of the time that I’m using Cursor lately, it’s for the IDE experience.
Being able to just have that layout the way I’m comfortable with would be awesome.
I’m surprised this isn’t getting as more traction, but I’ve also not had the time to browse the forum for similar topics. Am I the one out of touch, or is this already a planned feature? Is the Agent window deliberately different for the sake of setting itself apart from the editor layout? Agent chat on the left, file browser in the middle, code on the right isn’t making sense to me.
The way I’m able to rationalize this design choice right now is Cursor is trying to become less of a programming tool and more of a consumer tool like Codex. We’re the demographic being phased out.
In the classic Cursor IDE, the File Explorer (Primary Side Bar) can be moved left or right via View → Appearance, the command palette, or “workbench.sideBar.location”. In the new Agents Window, that isn’t possible — the file tree (or equivalent) is fixed. Please add layout controls comparable to the classic IDE.
Current behavior
Agents Window is agent-first and doesn’t expose Primary Side Bar position controls.
File access is mainly via Cmd/Ctrl+P and search, not a movable Explorer.
To move the Explorer, you have to switch to Open IDE, which breaks a single-layout workflow.
Requested behavior
Move / dock the File Explorer (and ideally other side panels) left or right in the Agents Window.
Persist the choice across sessions (same reliability as workbench.sideBar.location).
Optionally: drag to resize, and keep Agents + Explorer usable in one window without bouncing to the classic IDE.