Apply button in "Ask" diffs entire file

[Adam_Johnson]

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

When using Ask in the chat the // – existing code – functionality no longer diffs only part of the file.

Steps to Reproduce

In “Ask” mode make a one or two line change that will be replaced in two places in a file. Ask for Cursor to make a suggestion to fix those two lines.

If it gives you the markdown with the // – existing code – notation to not include the entire file and you then click “Apply” it will actually diff your entire file and leave you with the whole change in your editor. If it gives you the file before hand with all the changes then the diff is properly hidden with only a few lines shown. This creates a catch 22 where either way it is a bloat in the chat window.

Expected Behavior

The suggested markdown and subsequent diff would be relatively the same size in the chat window. I don’t want the entire file diffed especially on larger files. Additionally unneeded portions of the file would be folded as shown in screenshot.

Screenshots / Screen Recordings

Operating System

Windows 10/11

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

Version: 1.7.54 (system setup)
VSCode Version: 1.99.3
Commit: 5c17eb2968a37f66bc6662f48d6356a100b67be0
Date: 2025-10-21T19:07:38.476Z
Electron: 34.5.8
Chromium: 132.0.6834.210
Node.js: 20.19.1
V8: 13.2.152.41-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200

Additional Information

I have tested this in Cursor v 1.5.11 and this issue was not present. Chats in Ask where you used the “Apply” button only ever diffed the necessary lines for the change.

Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue

[Adam_Johnson]

This is a screenshot of it happening. Only 2 lines were changed but the 102 is the entire size of the file. The screenshot in the bug report was when it suggested the entire file and it picked up on it correctly, but it had the entire code block in the window before I clicked apply.

[Adam_Johnson]

Here are some more screenshots as examples

Before pressing “Apply”

After “Apply”

Also after “Apply”

[deanrie]

Hey, thanks for the report.

Since you’re on version 1.7.54 from October, please try updating to Cursor 2.0. Open Help → Check for Updates. The team has shipped many fixes since 1.7.54, and this regression may already be fixed in the latest version.

If the issue still happens after updating to 2.0, please let me know. We’ll update the existing ticket with your additional details about the diff expanding behavior.

[Adam_Johnson]

It does look to be fixed in 2.1.6. I will keep at it, but so far it does seem a lot better.

That said I did encounter a new issue which is somewhat similar. The message “file is in .cursorignore” comes after trying to press apply. I do not have a .cursorignore file anywhere in my project.

[Adam_Johnson]

Additionally is there a setting to have this open to full by default?