Chat history folder

rudeevelops · August 16, 2024, 1:55pm

Hi all, where is the chat history stored?
I love Cursor but I just changed PC, while working on a same project, same folder but chat history is gone.

Thanks!

litecode · August 16, 2024, 3:47pm

Hi @rudeevelops ,

Hopefully someone can give you a more satisfying/useful answer, but in previous posts on the topic of exporting chat history, I have seen this post referred to, which refers to a location where chat history is saved:

In response to that post, one user asked if there was a way to move data from one computer to another but hasn’t received a response yet:

Another user has put up a GitHub Repo that has this explanation:

Cursor’s chat history is stored in sqlite3 databases using state.vscdb files. One such file is for one workspace. All the chats for a workspace are saved here in so called tabs , one tab means a single chat.

Their post announcing the repo is here:

For reference, the Cursor team have noted the ‘export chat history’ feature request:

rudeevelops · September 9, 2024, 8:35am

Thanks a lot!
Would be great if a centralized/synced approach based on user account is implemented so Cursor usage is not dependent on a local workstation.
Are you aware if core team are working on anything similar?

thomas-pedersen · November 4, 2024, 12:13pm

I made a cursor chat log browser which lets you browse and download your logs.
cursor-chat-browser on github…

Han · December 16, 2024, 8:12pm

Hi @rudeevelops

This SpecStory Cursor Extension lets you view and save your Chat & Composer history as Markdown, or get a URL so you can share the log with someone else.

(I made this alongside a small team — SpecStory. We just launched today in Showcase!)

I really like your idea about a centralized / synced approach. We’re working on authentication, so we can eventually tackle that!

luci007 · March 15, 2025, 9:17am

A useless extension does not work at all Failed to read workspace storage:

CK-iRonin.IT · March 21, 2025, 1:16pm

I’ve just installed your extension. Had to move the project folder which is a nuisance. One thing to improve is to be able to prefix the .specstory history folders per developer, otherwise I have to .gitignore it.

gregce · March 21, 2025, 3:30pm

Hey @CK-iRonin.IT, what would you like to prefix .specstory with? Can you open an issue GitHub - specstoryai/getspecstory: Install our VSCode extension for Cursor. File issues and requests.?

legel · March 29, 2025, 12:17pm

I just had Cursor write a chat history exporter in .md format here:

gist.github.com

https://gist.github.com/legel/ebd0bbc012bf019a1db5212b825e7d16

export_cursor_chat_history_to_md.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import sqlite3
import json
from pathlib import Path
from datetime import datetime
import os
import base64

def extract_conversations_from_db(db_path):
    """Extract all conversations from the database with detailed error handling."""

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CK-iRonin.IT · March 31, 2025, 8:58pm

Specstory just saved me form loosing all the chat history in open Cursor instances after upgrading to 0.48.x today - I’m not the only one Lost entire chat history with 0.48.4 update - #7 by CK-iRonin.IT

gregce · April 1, 2025, 4:03pm

Glad to hear it!

dmk · April 14, 2025, 12:58am

Is there a version of this for macOS?

deanrie · April 14, 2025, 6:22am

Hey, this extension works on macOS!

Manojbhat09 · April 14, 2025, 8:59am

I created gist with scripts to extract the history on a markdown file. Either use python on git bash or wsl to extract from the folder of dbs:

gist.github.com

https://gist.github.com/Manojbhat09/a71ee0774d166d9e02fb49bb6d95b48d

extract_conversations_prompts.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# wsl

import sqlite3
import json
from pathlib import Path
from datetime import datetime

# path to WorkspaceStorage on Windows or any paths with folders and state.vscdb inside 
ENTRY_PATH="/mnt/c/Users/manoj/AppData/Roaming/Cursor/User/workspaceStorage"

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scan_conversation_data.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
#wsl

import sqlite3
import json
from pathlib import Path
import os

# path to WorkspaceStorage on Windows or any paths with folders and state.vscdb inside
ENTRY_PATH="/mnt/c/Users/manoj/AppData/Roaming/Cursor/User/workspaceStorage"

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marcnotenboom · April 20, 2025, 11:11am

Thank you for mentioning. This is great…

SUNLAND · June 22, 2025, 6:09am

I got my chat history back! Code was accidentally deleted, chat history disappeared. Devastating!
UNTIL - I searched on these forums and found I should look for .vscdb files on my computer which hold all the chat histories. Cursor told me to look in a hidden Library folder and actually opened the folder for me. - but they are not read-able. Cursor offered to help.
SOLUTION:
Cursor used 2 scripts to help search through the vscdb files and read them. I would tell Cursor what im looking for. key words, times, dates, and Cursor found everything one by one and compiled all the lost code and chat to a .md file. In conclusion ask Cursor to find it for you. I helped guide Cursor (EXAMPLE): " I remember asking to reduce the animation width by 50% and height by 50%." Cursor will find that point in the chat history and give all details and code involved.
Now let me make it easier - I asked Cursor to create a COPY and PASTE instruction message that you can give to your Cursor agent to help you recover lost chat history. here it is:
"Please help me recover lost chat history from Cursor’s workspace storage. This is a two-step process:

First, create a Python script called export_chats.py that can search through SQLite databases in the workspace storage directory (on Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/workspaceStorage, each containing a state.vscdb file). The script should search through chat data for specific time periods and keywords related to the lost content.
Then, create a Node.js script called clean_history.js that processes the exported chat history. This script should:
- Filter conversations based on project-specific keywords
- Clean up markdown formatting
- Remove irrelevant content
- Output cleaned history files for each team
  We’ll need to make multiple search passes with export_chats.py, refining the parameters each time to filter out noise and focus on relevant conversations. Once we have the raw chat data, we’ll use clean_history.js to organize and clean it. When we find matching content, help me reconstruct the code and implementation details from the chat fragments. Please guide me through this process step by step, starting with creating both scripts and then helping me search effectively by suggesting relevant search terms and filtering strategies based on what I’m trying to recover. Remember that chat history might contain code snippets, implementation discussions, and debugging sessions that can help piece together the lost work."
  Youre good to go -
  I hope you get your code back like I just got mine. EASY CODING !

SUNLAND · June 22, 2025, 10:54am

I got my chat history back! Code was accidentally deleted, chat history disappeared. Devastating!
UNTIL - I searched on these forums and found I should look for .vscdb files on my computer which hold all the chat histories. Cursor told me to look in a hidden Library folder and actually opened the folder for me. - but they are not read-able. Cursor offered to help.
SOLUTION:
Cursor used 2 scripts to help search through the vscdb files and read them. I would tell Cursor what im looking for. key words, times, dates, and Cursor found everything one by one and compiled all the lost code and chat to a .md file. In conclusion ask Cursor to find it for you. I helped guide Cursor (EXAMPLE): " I remember asking to reduce the animation width by 50% and height by 50%." Cursor will find that point in the chat history and give all details and code involved.
Now let me make it easier - I asked Cursor to create a COPY and PASTE instruction message that you can give to your Cursor agent to help you recover lost chat history. here it is:
"Please help me recover lost chat history from Cursor’s workspace storage. This is a two-step process:

First, create a Python script called export_chats.py that can search through SQLite databases in the workspace storage directory (on Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/workspaceStorage, each containing a state.vscdb file). The script should search through chat data for specific time periods and keywords related to the lost content.
Then, create a Node.js script called clean_history.js that processes the exported chat history. This script should:
- Filter conversations based on project-specific keywords
- Clean up markdown formatting
- Remove irrelevant content
- Output cleaned history files for each team
  We’ll need to make multiple search passes with export_chats.py, refining the parameters each time to filter out noise and focus on relevant conversations. Once we have the raw chat data, we’ll use clean_history.js to organize and clean it. When we find matching content, help me reconstruct the code and implementation details from the chat fragments. Please guide me through this process step by step, starting with creating both scripts and then helping me search effectively by suggesting relevant search terms and filtering strategies based on what I’m trying to recover. Remember that chat history might contain code snippets, implementation discussions, and debugging sessions that can help piece together the lost work."
  Youre good to go -
  I hope you get your code back like I just got mine. EASY CODING !

AdhamKazi · August 12, 2025, 10:20am

How to Migrate Cursor AI Chats from Old Machine to a New Machine (Same Codebase)

1. Keep the Same Path Structure
Make sure your project path on the new machine matches exactly with the old machine.

Example:
PS C:\Users\User Name\Xyz-Project\React_FE\react-fe\react-fe>
This path must be identical on both machines.

2. Open the Project in Cursor on the New Machine

Open Cursor AI and load your project from the exact same path.
Cursor will automatically create a hash-named folder inside:
C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming\Cursor\User\workspaceStorage\

Example:
C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming\Cursor\User\workspaceStorage\fd84c037829daf424ecf3593ffdcb629

3. Identify the Correct Folder on the Old Machine

Go to the same workspaceStorage path on your old machine.
Look for the hash-named folder that contains a file called workspace.json.
Open workspace.json and check if it matches your project’s path, e.g.:

PS C:\Users\User Name\Your-Project\React_FE\react-fe\react-fe>

If it matches, you’ve found the right folder.

4. Copy Chat Data from Old to New Machine

Copy all the files from that hash-named folder (on the old machine).
Paste them into the hash-named folder created on your new machine for the same project.
Overwrite existing files if asked.

5. Done — Chat History Restored

Open Cursor AI on the new machine.
You should see your full chat history for that project.

Important Notes:

This works when your codebase is identical and you’re simply moving machines.
The hash folder name will be different for each project, but workspace.json tells you which is which.
Always open the project first on the new machine so Cursor generates the folder before pasting files.

Topic		Replies	Views
How to get all chat history How To	6	9304	August 8, 2025
[Feature Request] Copy/Export full Chat history Feature Requests	6	1813	March 5, 2025
[Guide][5 steps] Exporting chats & prompts from Cursor Discussions	16	17620	June 25, 2025
Missing all AI Chats Discussions	10	2292	June 22, 2025
Make chat histories as LOCALLY saved FILEs, placed INSIDE the project folder Feedback	5	1449	March 23, 2025

Chat history folder

How to Migrate Cursor AI Chats from Old Machine to a New Machine (Same Codebase)

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