When i open a repo from my WSL terminal with “cursor ./reponame” it always opens in agent window (which i dont need at all) instead of editor window. I never used the agent window and do not need it. In the settings i set it to open on editor mode (as i use cursor as an ide). This is super frustrating, as when i then open the editor window, it is not even opening my repo, i have to select it first.
Steps to Reproduce
have a windows machine, then install wsl and install cursor
Hey, this is a known issue. The Layout: editor setting is currently ignored after the move to unified layout, and we’re tracking the bug. I can’t share an ETA for a fix yet.
Current workaround: from the Agents Window, open the Editor Window via Ctrl+Shift+N, or via Command Palette Ctrl+Shift+P then Open or Focus Editor Window. If you run cursor ./reponame and don’t want to see Glass, switch to the Editor after launch using one of the options above.
For the second part where the Editor Window doesn’t pick up the repo when opened manually, can you share a short repro? Do you open via CLI, then use the Editor shortcut, and it’s empty there? I want to confirm whether it’s part of the same bug or a separate case.
Once I have an update on the fix, I’ll reply in the thread.
This is the most frustrating “bug” I’ve ever seen in any software. It is grossly obnoxious that a nightly update would force such a drastic change.
I’ve always been a champion for positive change, but this has gone too far, too quickly. I’ve enjoyed using agents alongside my normal workflow. But I still want to code first, and use AI as my assistant. So just let me work how I’ve been working, and let me adjust on my terms.
To add more constructive feedback - the Agents Window does have a “Editor Window ” button, but when clicked, it just opens a blank window. I would expect it to open with the workspace I’m already in.
But the better solution is to just respect the setting of the workspace to use Editor Window by default. It really shouldn’t be that difficult to fix this “bug”.
@hufftheweevil I see the frustration, and the feedback is fair. We’re tracking the behavior where the Layout: editor setting gets ignored. It’s a bug, not an intended change. I can’t share an ETA for a fix yet.
On the second part about the Editor Window ↗ button opening an empty window instead of the current workspace, that’s a separate but related issue and it’s on our radar too. The workspace context should be passed through, and right now it isn’t.
Until the fix ships, here’s a temporary workaround:
From the Agents Window: Ctrl+Shift+N, or Command Palette > Open Editor Window
If you opened via cursor ./reponame and landed in Glass, switch to Editor using one of the options above. In this case the workspace will carry over, unlike the ↗ button
We’ll post an update in the thread once we have one.
@Kiziev yep, confirmed. This is a bug, not by design. I’ve added your report to the same thread.
My inner voice would like to rant about this for hours but I’ll just summarise: I don’t like one bit waking up to my work tools being magically broken for no reason, nor what it looks like the slow death of the actual programmer tools. I’m not paying for a chat window but for actual coding tools enhanced by AI.
I have the same issue now and I used to open cursor and it would load straight into current project in ide, now it opens in agent mode all the time, also I cant access my chat history, archive shows just wont open or load chat history once in editor, even if open saved workspace, its really annoying and making using cursor a task now not enjoyable as previously was
At this moment, I can’t even open the editor for one of my workspace, whatever I try to do mentioned above, does not work, it always goes to the agents window. I’m losing time and my mind over this.
When I started Cursor today, I saw the “update available” popup and thought “Oh, I wonder if they finally fixed this”. As I clicked it, I just realized that somehow Cursor had actually opened in Editor mode already. I didn’t even think about it, because that’s just what I’ve been used to. Then, after the update, it’ went back to opening in Agent mode.
@deanrieCtrl+Shift+N works, but also does not keep the workspace context.
It’s really hard to understand how this seemingly tiny bug is not priority number 1 right now - it’s literally interrupting all other workflow, so nothing else should matter. And it’s also really hard to understand how you can’t just have your AI agents to fix it in 10 seconds. We all know how easy it is now!
I agree with others - this feels more like some internal politics at force. I’m willing to bet messages are flying between leadership, trying to figure out how they can get more and more agent usage out of users. I wouldn’t be surprised if they drop the Editor mode altogether, eventually.
I guess I’ll start shopping around for alternatives.
This bug drives me mad. I waste like 20 minutes every day switching from the useless “Agent mode” to the Editor on every repo I work on. It seems like Cursor team has no idea who actually uses their app if they push agent as the forced default.
I’m seriously considering switching to another IDE once my subscription expires.
@hufftheweevil confirmed. The fact that Ctrl+Shift+N from the Agents Window does not pick up the workspace is a separate known bug that we track separately from the main Layout: editor issue. So the workaround is only partial. It opens an Editor Window, but without the repo context. I can’t share an ETA for either bug yet.
@Rob4 thanks for confirming on Ubuntu. That means it’s not WSL or Windows-specific, it’s global after the migration to unified layout. That’s a helpful signal. About chat history or archive not opening, that sounds like a separate issue. If you can reproduce it consistently, please start a separate thread with your Cursor version, OS, and steps. That will help us look into it faster without mixing it with the layout bug.
@AoDev for your case where nothing helps open the workspace in the Editor, it could be the same bug in a worse form, or it could be something else. To understand, please share:
Cursor version Help > About and OS
What exactly happens when you press Ctrl+Shift+N from the Agents Window, and when you run cursor /path/to/repo from the terminal, where the window opens and what you see in it
If you have a Request ID from the Agents Window session right top corner of the chat > Copy Request ID
I get that this is annoying, especially when the setting is clearly set and still ignored. This is a bug on our side, not intended behavior. Once I have an update on the fix, I’ll reply here.
This concerns me a lot too. Every update seems to shift design away from serious developer tools and towards vibe coders. I have nothing against vibe coding, but the whole reason I started using Cursor is for a fully-featured IDE with AI baked in.
I also been getting this bug since yesterday, whenever I launch Cursor from the dock it now opens my project in the new Agents Window every single time. And when I use the “Open Editor Window” button it opens a blank editor page instead of my most recently closed workspace (if it is of any help for the reproduction, we use a multi-root folder workspace).
This is quite frustrating and I hope you can find a fix for it soon.
Great, another update (3.3.30) and still not fixed. I still don’t get it - what could possibly be more important than ensuring your product works when you open it.
And now it’s even worse… after switching to Editor mode and then opening the workspace, again, it never fully loads. I’m stuck with the loading line below the file tabs. And a completely unusable terminal - it’s just blank.
At least I only have 6 days left for my month. I guess I’ll start shopping around to find a new IDE solution. I know I’m just one customer, and I don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. But something tells me I won’t be the only one.
Following up on @deanrie’s reply:
We’ve received the feedback. Version 3.3.30 adds a new “Open Agents Window on startup” toggle in Cursor Settings > Agents. Turn it off to launch into the Editor by default.
To get the update: Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P > Attempt Update, then restart Cursor.
If you don’t see the toggle after updating, the workarounds from my earlier reply still work: Shift+Cmd+N (Mac) / Shift+Ctrl+N (Windows/Linux) to open the Editor, or launch from terminal with cursor . --classic. The update is rolling out gradually, so it may take a bit to reach everyone.
Thank you for the update. I did not notice the toggle earlier. It didn’t work at first, but then I restarted Cursor another time and it seems to be working now.
I also noticed you changed the style of the Agents Window button to use the theme’s “button.background” color. It was a transparent background before. Now it significantly stands out in most themes. And it feels intrusive and obnoxious, since it’s always on the screen. I can only imagine this was done intentionally to try and draw more people towards it.
We get it - Cursor wants people to use Agents Window so that they use agents more and hit their limits, thus requiring them to upgrade. You don’t have to pretend that this isn’t about money.
Should the toggle be available for all on 3.3.30? Still no toggle for me no matter how many times I restart.
It’s baffling to me that the decision was made that working developers would want agents window by default and that this is intentional. If it gets to the point that my team can no longer rely on just opening cursor in the morning and being back in their usual flow, we will just change to a tool that does.
You will lose the agents only race. You cannot compete on token consumption costs.
You have a tremendous advantage and opportunity to make an AI first IDE instead of yet another agent harness, and you’ve built a genuinely useful tool, only to now try and copy the competition on agent only.
Run a poll, do user research, check the data (e.g. how many of your users opened the editor window back after you’ve made the agents window the default?). You know more than me, so I might be wrong, but for me the only thing useful about cursor is the editor experience.
” button, but when clicked, it just opens a blank window. I would expect it to open with the workspace I’m already in.
I still don’t get it - what could possibly be more important than ensuring your product works when you open it.
