# Claude code cursor extension cannot be pinned to sidebar

**URL:** <https://forum.cursor.com/t/claude-code-cursor-extension-cannot-be-pinned-to-sidebar/147766>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [January 1, 2026, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/claude-code-cursor-extension-cannot-be-pinned-to-sidebar/147766 "2026-01-01T10:13:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gareth\_jax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/gareth_jax/32/79777_2.png) [@gareth\_jax](https://forum.cursor.com/u/gareth_jax)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/claude-code-cursor-extension-cannot-be-pinned-to-sidebar/147766/1 "2026-01-01T10:13:54Z")

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I’ve got claude code extension for cursor, but i cannot pin the widget to the sidebar:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/9/4/94109df8d5f7be82badc790376613f4576643eab.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/8/9/895320f6cdeb8c8a511457a75057ea42c9e1e1ce.png)

is that normal?

**my install:**

Version: 2.3.18  
VSCode Version: 1.105.1  
Commit: df371ac0d93fe1a68d05eeb59a09c5c39add0c80  
Date: 2026-01-01T01:49:45.089Z  
Electron: 37.7.0  
Chromium: 138.0.7204.251  
Node.js: 22.20.0  
V8: 13.8.258.32-electron.0  
OS: Darwin arm64 23.6.0

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![deanrie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/deanrie/32/1263_2.png) [@deanrie](https://forum.cursor.com/u/deanrie)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/claude-code-cursor-extension-cannot-be-pinned-to-sidebar/147766/2 "2026-01-01T11:35:45Z")

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Hey, thanks for the report. What you’re seeing is expected behavior, and it’s confirmed in Anthropic’s official docs.

Anthropic intentionally doesn’t add an icon to the Activity Bar. Their official explanation is that, due to VS Code API limits, extensions can only place icons in the primary left sidebar, but Claude Code is designed to run in the secondary right sidebar. Instead of putting it in an awkward spot on the left, they guide users to the Spark icon.

How to open Claude Code, in order:

- Spark icon, click it in the top-right corner of the editor. It shows up when a file is open
- Command Palette, `Cmd+Shift+P` then search for `Claude Code: Open in Side Bar`

To make it easier, set a keyboard shortcut:

- `Cmd+K` then `Cmd+S` to open Keyboard Shortcuts
- Find `Claude Code: Open in Side Bar`
- Set a shortcut you like, for example `Cmd+Shift+C`

After you open it once via the command, the Claude Code panel will appear in the sidebar and you can drag it to where you want.

This isn’t a bug. It’s a design choice documented here: [Use Claude Code in VS Code - Claude Code Docs](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/vs-code)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![liangjianmin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/liangjianmin/32/59639_2.png) [@liangjianmin](https://forum.cursor.com/u/liangjianmin)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 9:58am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/claude-code-cursor-extension-cannot-be-pinned-to-sidebar/147766/3 "2026-01-02T09:58:33Z")

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![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/6/b/6b76f9cd59f2ae5988d96babb3897283d73c97ec.png)  
Can the feature configuration of version 1.7 be restored? Every time I open the chat history, it loads slowly and the experience is very poor. This was originally configured as a switch, why should it be removed