# Impossible to open a repository from the command line **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug Reports\ **Tags:** layout, agents-window\ **Created:** [May 8, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069 "2026-05-08T07:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Antoine\_Codogno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@Antoine\_Codogno](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Antoine_Codogno)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/1 "2026-05-08T07:07:10Z")
### Where does the bug appear (feature/product)? Cursor IDE ### Describe the Bug When opening cursor from a repository folder, cursor now opens Agent window by default (which is already annoying), but when clicking Editor Window, it opens a blank document. You must re-open a folder from the menu bar or the welcome page after closing the blank page ### Steps to Reproduce - open a terminal and navigate to a repo folder - open cursor with “cursor .” command - witness bad UX ### Expected Behavior Cursor opens in editor mode in the currenty folder ### Operating System MacOS ### Version Information Version: 3.3.27 VSCode Version: 1.105.1 Commit: 80b138a7a0a948e1a798e9ed7867d76a1ba9a310 Date: 2026-05-08T02:26:22.498Z Layout: glass Build Type: Stable Release Track: Default Electron: 39.8.1 Chromium: 142.0.7444.265 Node.js: 22.22.1 V8: 14.2.231.22-electron.0 OS: Darwin arm64 25.3.0 ### Does this stop you from using Cursor No - Cursor works, but with this issue ---
**Author:** ![deanrie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/deanrie/32/1263_2.png) [@deanrie](https://forum.cursor.com/u/deanrie)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 8:37am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/5 "2026-05-08T08:37:15Z")
Hey, thanks for the report. Answering both parts separately: 1. `cursor .` opens the Agent Window This is expected for users on the glass layout. In your version info it shows Layout: glass. If you want `cursor .` to open the Editor, switch the layout from the quick menu in the top right of the Agents Window. Pick Layout - Left/Right/Zen, or the classic Editor preset. 1. Clicking `Editor Window ↗` opens an empty window without the repo This is a known bug on our side. The new IDE window gets swapped back to Glass right away because of a race with the post-login redirect. We’re tracking it, but I can’t share an ETA yet. Workaround that keeps the workspace, unlike the `↗` button: - From Glass: `Cmd+Shift+N` - Or Command Palette `Cmd+Shift+P` then Open Editor Window Once it’s fixed, I’ll reply in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Antoine\_Codogno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@Antoine\_Codogno](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Antoine_Codogno)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/7 "2026-05-08T18:54:46Z")
I’m confused, I don’t see any Layout option from the top right Agent Window menu: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/6/3/63d8903704d237f850b38a2cfa74569d2303ec28.png) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/2/1/218cf4aa440764f334759b8e5e4c5d6bbd7c612f.png) If I want an agentic view, I’d rather use multiple TUI, I really don’t see the point of this new view… Opening a repo folder in the IDE is literally the first thing I do when I start working, I can’t stress enough how bad this UX of having to click around 3 times for something as simple… ---
**Author:** ![handwovensole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/handwovensole/32/79822_2.png) [@handwovensole](https://forum.cursor.com/u/handwovensole)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/8 "2026-05-09T00:13:44Z")
I appreciate you’re trying to make this as hands-off as possible for the vibe coders, but come on. I have a forum account from the last time you did this – really disruptive and annoying to people trying to use this as a VS Code replacement. Wanting to start a session with `cursor .` should not be a deprecated edge case. ---
**Author:** ![deanrie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/deanrie/32/1263_2.png) [@deanrie](https://forum.cursor.com/u/deanrie)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 9:40am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/11 "2026-05-09T09:40:32Z")
Hey, the easiest way is to click `Editor Window ↗` in the top-right corner the arrow next to the label. That’ll switch you to the Editor Window. After that, `cursor .` will open whichever window was last active. So once you switch to the Editor, `cursor .` will launch the Editor with your workspace. ---
**Author:** ![Antoine\_Codogno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@Antoine\_Codogno](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Antoine_Codogno)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 9:56am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/12 "2026-05-09T09:56:58Z")
no, this isn’t the case, I constantly switch to editor view and `cursor .` keeps on re-opening the agent window every time… ---
**Author:** ![deanrie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/deanrie/32/1263_2.png) [@deanrie](https://forum.cursor.com/u/deanrie)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 12:44pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/13 "2026-05-09T12:44:15Z")
Thanks for clarifying. The most reliable workaround for your use case is to launch Cursor with this flag: ```bash cursor . --classic ``` This will open the Editor right away with your working folder, skipping the Agents window. It’s also handy to add an alias in `.zshrc` or `.bashrc`, for example: ```bash alias c='cursor . --classic' ``` ---
**Author:** ![handwovensole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/handwovensole/32/79822_2.png) [@handwovensole](https://forum.cursor.com/u/handwovensole)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/14 "2026-05-09T17:20:44Z")
Thanks. Is this the new normal or a bug that’s getting fixed? I’d like to know before I update my various broken scripts and aliases. ---
**Author:** ![mohitjain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/mohitjain/32/100229_2.png) [@mohitjain](https://forum.cursor.com/u/mohitjain)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2026, 9:17am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/15 "2026-05-10T09:17:49Z")
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. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/c/b/cbe0aa3eb483297868d24a55897fceaba1f6cb9b.jpeg) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Antoine\_Codogno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@Antoine\_Codogno](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Antoine_Codogno)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/impossible-to-open-a-repository-from-the-command-line/160069/16 "2026-05-10T18:33:14Z")
it finally works… quick question though, why the “plus” and “toggle agent” icons, it seems they both do the same thing… ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/4/c/4c3800fcb2aa86e5ae93757480345e87e1fc64eb.png) Just a question, please don’t remove the toggle agent icon