How can I make Cursor open an empty window on startup?

Support Help
1

I don’t want Cursor to keep reopening the last project I closed. I just want it to start with an empty window.

5

Hey, this is configurable. Open Settings Ctrl/Cmd+,, search for restore windows, and set Window: Restore Windows to none. Then Cursor will start with an empty window instead of reopening the last project.

A couple notes:

  • If Cursor opens the Agents window on launch and you want the normal editor, go to Cursor Settings > General and set Window Restoration to Last Used Windows.
  • When Cursor restarts to install an update, it will restore windows once no matter what. That’s expected.

Let me know if any of this didn’t work.

6

I already have it set that way, but Cursor still reopens the last project I closed.

If I quit Cursor completely with Cmd + Q, it starts with an empty window next time. But if I close the window using the red X button, Cursor reopens that same project the next time I launch it.

Is there a way to make clicking the red X fully quit Cursor, the same as Cmd + Q?

7

Hey, this is expected macOS behavior, not a Cursor setting. On Mac, the red X only closes the window, but the app stays running, so the icon is still in the Dock. While Cursor is still running, clicking the icon again brings back the last window with your project. That’s why Cmd+Q gives you an empty window, it fully quits the app, so Window: Restore Windows = none applies, but closing with X doesn’t.

This is how most macOS apps work, and there isn’t a built-in toggle to fully quit Cursor when you click X right now.

Options:

  • Use Cmd+Q to fully quit when you want a clean start next time.
  • Or press Cmd+W before quitting to close the project tab, then the window will stay empty.

If you want a real quit on window close option, it’s worth posting a feature request in the Feature Requests section on the forum. Let me know if any of this doesn’t work.

8

Before version 3.10.x, clicking the red X would close the window, and reopening Cursor would give me an empty window. I actually stayed on a pre-3.10.x version for a long time because of this, but it’s way too outdated now.

This behavior only changed in later versions. Now I have to fully quit Cursor with Cmd + Q to get an empty window the next time I open it.

9

Thanks for clarifying the version, that’s an important detail.

I’ll pass your note to the team that before 3.10.x, closing with the X and then reopening could show an empty window. We’ll double-check how closing via the X behaves. No timeline for this yet.

If you want a “fully quit when closing the window” option, please file it as a request in Feature Requests so it’s easier to track.