Can not use arrow keys, del, backspace, Ctrl-Z, and other modifiers in the code editor, while a Browser tab is opened in another tab group

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1

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

When I have two tab groups, and in one tab a Browser tab is opened, in another group the tab with code is opened, sometimes Cursor starts to block using the arrow keys in the code editor!

Also, backspace, del, ctrl-z, other modifiers - do not work too! I can type the text and numbers, but can’t delete or navigate.

Switching to another editor tab does not help.

Switching from the Browser tab in another tab group to other tab (eg, an editor tab) - does not resolve the issue too.

Only when I completely close the “Browser window” tab - everything starts to work correctly!

And I can open the same “Browser window” tab again with the same page, and everything will work well for some time, but later - something “triggers” inside Cursor and my editor gets locked again. So, still can not build clear reproduction steps because this happens randomly!

I reported this issue by Cursor’s “Report Issue” multiple times already, but got no response on that. So, decided to post a forum topic to speed up fixing this.

Steps to Reproduce

Open two tab groups, one tab group with code editor tabs, another - with a Browser tab (one or several).

After some time or actions, the code editor windows stops to react on arrow keys and other modifiers.

Expected Behavior

The code editor tab should work well together with the opened Browser tab!

Operating System

Linux

Version Information

Version: 3.28.7
VS Code Extension API: 1.128.0
Commit: 25b52e7d03ebf2d5608914158e119f7992432a30
Date: 2026-11-03T02:20:44.943Z
Layout: IDE
Build Type: Stable
Release Track: Default
Electron: 42.11.16
Chromium: 148.0.7778.280
Node.js: 24.19.0
V8: 14.8.178.38-electron.0
xterm.js: 6.1.0-beta.291
OS: Linux x64 7.1.3-070103-generic

Does this stop you from using Cursor

Sometimes - I can sometimes use Cursor

4

Found a similar issue here Browser intercepts cmd+arrow keys - impossible to work in agent dialog - #9 by murz

6

Usually it happens after using the “Developer: Reload Window” command when I need to reconnect to a Remote SSH session.

8

Hey @murz! Thanks for the detail - this isn’t intended behavior or anything in your setup, and it’s an issue we’re tracking. It’s related to the Cmd+arrow thread you linked but a separate variant (that one hijacks arrows into browser back/forward; here all editor keys get held back).

Since it kicks in right after Developer: Reload Window, try closing the Browser tab before you reload, then reopen it once Remote SSH reconnects. When it does lock up, closing the Browser tab clears it (as you found).

Does it happen every time you reload, or only sometimes?