Cursor CLI agent doesn't support square bracket model name variants

Support Bug Reports
1

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor CLI

Describe the Bug

the help text for Cursor CLI agent says:

-model <model>              Model to use (e.g., gpt-5, sonnet-4-thinking). Parameterized
                               models accept quoted bracket overrides, e.g.
                               'claude-opus-4-8[context=1m,effort=high,fast=false]'

But if I run it with that same example, it fails and presents a list of model names, like claude-opus-4-8-thinking-high

Steps to Reproduce

For example, run on the CLI:

agent --yolo --model 'claude-opus-4-8[context=1m,effort=high,fast=false]' -p 'Hello'

Expected Behavior

If the --help text says it’s supported and even provides an example, at least that example should run successfully, right?

Operating System

MacOS

Version Information

About Cursor CLI

CLI Version         2026.06.19-20-24-33-653a7fb
Model               GPT-5.5 272K Extra High Fast
Subscription Tier   Pro
OS                  darwin (arm64)
Terminal            vscode
Shell               zsh
User Email          [email protected]

Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue

5

Hey, on the latest CLI builds the confusing bracket example in --help has already been removed, so the help text now matches the actual behavior. The parameterized bracket syntax in --model still isn’t supported yet.

Update the CLI using agent update, then pick the model directly by its slug from agent --list-models or agent models, for example --model claude-opus-4-8-thinking-high. For 1M context with Opus you need Max Mode, it’s easiest to choose it via the interactive /model picker.

Let me know if after updating your --help still shows the bracket example, then we can double check your version.

6

Hi Dean

Thanks for the explanation.
Nevertheless, even though I updated the CLI agent to the latest version, the issue still persists:

`agent --version` → 2026.06.24-00-45-58-9f61de7
`agent --help` →
```
–model Model to use (e.g., gpt-5, sonnet-4-thinking). Parameterized
models accept quoted bracket overrides, e.g.
‘claude-opus-4-8[context=1m,effort=high,fast=false]’
```

7

Thanks for checking and getting back with the version.

You’re right. In your build 2026.06.24-00-45-58-9f61de7, the bracket syntax example is still in --help. Looks like the help text cleanup didn’t make it into that build yet.

Main point: bracket parameters in the CLI flag --model like claude-opus-4-8[context=1m,effort=high,fast=false] aren’t actually supported right now. That example showed up in --help by mistake and shouldn’t be there. So it’s not just a docs issue, the feature isn’t wired up to --model yet.

I’ve logged both the misleading help text and the missing bracket parsing. I can’t share an ETA yet, but I’ll post an update here if I have one.