Fix: The terminal process "/usr/bin/arch '-l'" failed to launch (exit code: 1)

[flourishprosper]

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

I get this error when launching Cursor.
The terminal process “/usr/bin/arch ‘-l’” failed to launch (exit code: 1).

Has anyone had this before and how did you fix?

Steps to Reproduce

Open up cursor. First thing that pops up for me in the lower left hand corner of the app.

Operating System

MacOS

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

1.7.44
VSCode 1.99.3

Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue

[deanrie]

Hey, thanks for the report. The error indicates /usr/bin/arch is being launched with an invalid -l argument. That usually points to a terminal configuration issue.

Could you share:

1. Terminal settings from settings.json Cmd + Shift + P → “Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)”, especially:
   • terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.osx
   • terminal.integrated.profiles.osx
   • terminal.integrated.automationProfile.osx
2. Whether you recently changed terminal/shell settings or updated Cursor
3. Any custom shell configs .zshrc, .bashrc that might add launch arguments

Quick workaround:

• Cmd + Shift + P → “Terminal: Select Default Profile”
• Pick your preferred shell zsh or bash and try again

This will help us find where the invalid -l flag is coming from. Let me know what you find.

[flourishprosper]

these are the only 2 I see in there.

“terminal.integrated.profiles.osx”: {

    "zsh (Rosetta)": {

“path”: “/usr/bin/arch”,

“args”: [

“-x86_64”,

“/bin/zsh”

        \]

    }

},

“terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.osx”: “zsh (Rosetta)”,

I think switching over to bash fixed this. I don’t see the error anymore. Thank you!