Directory Junctions Break File Explorer

Support Bug Reports
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1

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

When opening a directory with a directory junction in it, the side bar shows nothing in the directory.

Steps to Reproduce

Creating a directory function in a Directory with other files in it, then open the parent directory in cursor. Sidebar will show an empty directory even tho there are files in it.

Expected Behavior

Should show all sub directories and files in opened directory. See VS Code for how it operates.

vscode version referenced:

Version: 1.94.0 (user setup)
Commit: d78a74bcdfad14d5d3b1b782f87255d802b57511
Date: 2024-10-02T13:08:12.626Z
Electron: 30.5.1
ElectronBuildId: 10262041
Chromium: 124.0.6367.243
Node.js: 20.16.0
V8: 12.4.254.20-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200

Screenshots / Screen Recordings

vs-code-p-drive.png
vs-code-p-drive.png1005×699 8.4 KB

Operating System

Windows 10/11

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

Version: 2.3.35 (user setup)
VSCode Version: 1.105.1
Commit: cf8353edc265f5e46b798bfb276861d0bf3bf120
Date: 2026-01-13T07:39:18.564Z
Electron: 37.7.0
Chromium: 138.0.7204.251
Node.js: 22.20.0
V8: 13.8.258.32-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200

Does this stop you from using Cursor

Yes - Cursor is unusable

3

Hey, thanks for the report. Directory junctions break the file explorer. This is a known issue with how the sidebar renders the file system, similar to the subst drives bug that the VS Code team already fixed in version 1.103.

Related reports: File Explorer view can not display when folder openned is the root of a subst

For now, please try:

  • Avoid directory junctions inside projects. Use normal folders or symlinks instead.
  • If the junction is critical, open the target folder directly in Cursor instead of the parent directory.

Since VS Code already fixed a similar issue, I’ll pass this to the team as a priority. This blocks work for projects that use junctions.

5

Yea. I can’t really avoid the directory junction as it’s a reference to another folder full of files that I use for reference for myself and the AI agents and such. It’s a necessary evil for me at the moment.

1 Like
6

Did your team fix it?

7

This topic was automatically closed 22 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

9

Hey @lothsun / @Yuke_He

I tried reproducing on 2.6 with mklink /J on Windows: The File Explorer shows the junction, it expands, and files under it open fine on my side.

Let me know if you’re still facing an issue, especially if you can layout some commands/screenshots that will help us reproduce it.

11

My issue has been resolved. Thanks.

1 Like