Mac os Cursor App not opening after update

Bug Reports
1

Hello I clicked on restart + update on the cursor window and since then the app is not opening. On Activity monitor, it shows as 0:00 CPU time. I got a sample from the process and here it is:

nalysis of sampling Cursor (pid 71829) every 1 millisecond
Process:         Cursor [71829]
Path:            /Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/MacOS/Cursor
Load Address:    0x10067e000
Identifier:      com.todesktop.230313mzl4w4u92
Version:         ???
Code Type:       X86-64
Parent Process:  ??? [1]

Date/Time:       2025-05-27 22:54:55.570 -0700
Launch Time:     2025-05-27 22:51:25.568 -0700
OS Version:      macOS 14.7.5 (23H527)
Report Version:  7
Analysis Tool:   /usr/bin/sample

Physical footprint:         8K
Physical footprint (peak):  8K
Idle exit:                  untracked
----

Call graph:
    2640 Thread_9649921: Main Thread   DispatchQueue_<multiple>
      2640 ???  (in <unknown binary>)  [0x1067b2010]

Total number in stack (recursive counted multiple, when >=5):

Sort by top of stack, same collapsed (when >= 5):
        ???  (in <unknown binary>)  [0x1067b2010]        2640

Binary images description not available

I redownloaded cursor ide from the website, but it still hangs.

my mac os version:

14.7.5 (23H527)

Please suggest how I can get the ide back. I am paying for pro if that helps.

2

I installed via the Downloads | Cursor - The AI Code Editor page for my specific architecture x86, but it still has the same behavior

3

I tried to download 0.49 V instead, but it still doesnt work and has the same behavior

4

Similar issue, I analysed the problem found it is being blocked by gatekeeper? Privacy & Security thing? however can’t seem to find cursor withint Privacy & Security to unblock it.

5

I can also confirm this issue on my end. Not been able to use it all day, but it’s working on my windows device

6

Hey, try removing Cursor by following this guide:

7

Possible fix?
Try this:

Root Cause: The app expected ~/.cursor to be a directory, but it was a file instead, preventing the app from creating its necessary configuration.

Solution:

  1. We identified the issue by launching Cursor from the terminal using:
    /Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/MacOS/Cursor
    This revealed the error message about ~/.cursor not being a directory.

  2. We fixed it with a simple command:
    rm -f ~/.cursor
    This removed the conflicting file, allowing Cursor to create its configuration directory properly.

  3. After removing the file, Cursor launched successfully and even began downloading updates.

If you’re experiencing issues where Cursor won’t launch on macOS, check if you have a .cursor file in your home directory. If it exists, remove it and try launching Cursor again. The app will create the proper directory structure it needs.

Note: This solution specifically addresses the “ENOTDIR: not a directory” error when Cursor tries to create its configuration directory.

8

To solve this I updated to the latest mac os and downloaded and ran all updates. There was also something in Privacy & Security, perhaps unrelated, which required me to restart my laptop again.

At this current moment everything works (for now…)

The best bet is to update your laptop and/or restart it or try @tony1997112 's fix.

1 Like
9

For me it all started when I updated my mac :smiley:

The privacy & Security issue was the gatekeeper, from then it went all over the place but now we seem to have found a solution.