I’m experiencing several issues with version 3.11.19 of the AppImage. I was previously using version 3.7.x, and everything worked as expected.
Every time I launch the application, it opens in Agent View, even though I always switch it back to IDE View. In version 3.7.x, the application correctly remembered this preference and opened directly in IDE View. My goal is to always open IDE view.
Each time I start the application, it opens 2 or 3 Agent windows simultaneously. I’m launching it from the command line on Ubuntu, so this is not caused by multiple clicks.
In version 3.7.x, the IDE always reopened the last workspace/project I had open. In version 3.11.19, it always displays the welcome/splash screen instead.
According to the release notes for 3.11.19, the Side Chats feature should be available. However, there is no “+” button to create a side chat, and commands such as /btw and /side are also unavailable.
I also tested the same issues with version 3.11.25, and nothing has changed.
What’s more currently all previous appimage versions also have got such issue. For example version 2.6.x opens one instance of IDE with my recent opened project and one instance with agent window. Below screen after launching 2.6 appimage version.
For AI issues: which model did you use?
Model name (e.g., Sonnet 4, Tab…)
For AI issues: add Request ID with privacy disabled
Request ID: f9a7046a-279b-47e5-ab48-6e8dc12daba1
For Background Agent issues, also post the ID: bc-…
Additional Information
Add any other context about the problem here.
Does this stop you from using Cursor?
Yes - Cursor is unusable
Sometimes - I can sometimes use Cursor
No - Cursor works, but with this issue
The more details you provide, the easier it is for us to reproduce and fix the issue. Thanks!
Hey, thanks for the detailed report with screenshots. I can see both issues the screen with no available commands and the AppImage launch with multiple Agent windows. I’ll go point by point.
Points 1 to 3 starts in Agent View, multiple windows, workspace not restored: this is a related behavior change in the 3.11.x line. Cursor now restores windows from the previous session, and new windows open as an Agents Window by default. Since your last session had multiple Agent windows, they all get restored on launch, and there is no editor window with your last project, so you end up on the splash screen. The setting Open Agents Window on Startup: Off only changes the default for the first new window, it does not force the IDE. Session restore will still bring back whatever was open when you quit.
The most reliable way to land in the editor right now is: open Cursor and press Ctrl+Shift+N File > Open Editor Window. One detail: the window will open empty with no workspace. Then go to File > Open Folder and open the folder you need manually. Both windows can stay open at the same time, and you can switch between them with Alt+Tab.
You can also try closing all Agent windows and quitting Cursor from the editor window. Then only that editor window should be present in the restored session. There is also the cursor . --classic flag when launching from the terminal, but on Linux AppImage it often gets ignored in my experience, so I can’t guarantee it. If it doesn’t work, that’s expected, use Ctrl+Shift+N.
This is known behavior and it’s being tracked. I can’t share an exact ETA for changes yet.
Point 4 Side Chats: this is not a bug, the feature is already enabled for you on 3.11.19 and 3.11.25. A couple notes:
Side Chats only exist in Agents view, they are not in the classic IDE composer. If you switch back to the IDE, you won’t see them there.
The /side command which now includes the old /btw only appears after the chat has at least one message. Side chat forks the active conversation. In a brand new empty chat you won’t see /side or /btw. Send the first message, then type /side or /side <your request>.
Let me know if Ctrl+Shift+N helped you start in the editor.
I’m sorry to say this, but virtually all of the issues were caused by the fact that my existing settings were simply overwritten (presumably intentionally) by the newer version. I don’t understand the rationale behind forcing me to use something I don’t want and overriding my preferences.
Glad you got to the root of it, and thanks for coming back with details. That list of specific settings Window Layout → Editor, Open Agents Window on Startup → Off, Open Chats as Editor Tabs → Off, and moving the sidebar to the left will definitely help other users who ran into the same thing after updating to 3.11.x.
On the preferences being overwritten, I agree it’s frustrating, and settings shouldn’t silently change on you during an update. The change in startup behavior in the 3.11.x line is being tracked on our side, but I can’t share a specific ETA yet.
If anything starts resetting again after you restore your settings in the next update, post here. It’s helpful to know if the reset is repeatable.
