Remote - SSH extension not working in cursor, but working in Visual studio code

[Valery_Pegg]

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

When using the Remote - SSH extension within Cursor IDE I am unable to remotely access my remote host from my local machine.
However, I am able to do ssh <name in ssh config> and connect that way, but without Remote - SSH I am unable to mirror my file structure as easily (it is the extension specifically that is not working).

I have tried in visual studio code and this works both ways (running ssh and using the Remote - SSH extension.

MacOS 15.6 (24G84)
Cursor Version: 1.4.5 (Universal)

Steps to Reproduce

1. set up ssh config
2. run ssh <name in ssh config> to confirm you have correct credentials (whether thats keys password etc. setup).
3. cmd + p and select Remote - SSH: Connect to Host. Select the host name used in 2.
4. New window will open and the following error:

Connection to Cursor server failed: Failed to connect to the remote SSH host. Please check the logs for more details.
[error] Error installing server: Failed to connect to the remote SSH host. Please check the logs for more details.
2025-08-22 11:04:42.545 [error] Error resolving SSH authority Failed to connect to the remote SSH host. Please check the logs for more details.

Expected Behavior

Able to access remote host and be able to explore files in cursor IDE.

Operating System

MacOS

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

Version: 1.4.5 (Universal)
VSCode Version: 1.99.3
Commit: af58d92614edb1f72bdd756615d131bf8dfa5290
Date: 2025-08-13T02:08:56.371Z (1 wk ago)
Electron: 34.5.8
Chromium: 132.0.6834.210
Node.js: 20.19.1
V8: 13.2.152.41-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 24.6.0

Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue

[andre-qumulo]

I am getting something similar. My logs are:

2025-09-10 11:55:23.037 [info] (ssh_tunnel) stdout: r/T/cursor_remote_install_0fc30ed6-4393-46b3-8581-76131ef2a01b.sh" | ssh -T -F “<config file>”

2025-09-10 11:55:23.046 [info] (ssh_tunnel) stdout: -D 51562 <host alias> bash --login -c bash; echo "Exit code: $?. Finished running command."2025-09-10 11:55:23.059 [info] (ssh_tunnel) stdout: e[?1034hsh-3.2$ cat "/var/folders/3f/jr7msd152c9d99yj7p5hhq8r0000gr/T/cursor_remote_install_0fc30ed6-4393-46b3-8 

581-76131ef2a01b.sh" | ssh -T -F “<config file>” -D 51562 <host alias> bash --login -c bash; echo " 

Exit code: $?. Finished running command."

2025-09-10 11:55:23.083 [info] (ssh_tunnel) stdout: ssh: connect to host <my host> port 22: Undefined error: 0

Exit code: 255. Finished running command.

sh-3.2$ 

2025-09-10 11:55:23.086 [error] Error installing server: Failed to connect to the remote SSH host. Please check the logs for more details.

[ravirahman]

This looks like there was an error establishing the ssh connection. Could you confirm that you are able to ssh in a terminal?

If it still doesn’t work, could you share the full logs?

[andre-qumulo]

I was able to SSH in a terminal.

Oddly enough, it has started working again now that I’ve changed physical locations/networks. We use tailscale at my work so I wonder if something got weird in the networking that cursor was using?

[Valery_Pegg]

I able to ssh in a terminal. But still cannot mirror my IDE.

[ravirahman]

Oddly enough, it has started working again now that I’ve changed physical locations/networks. We use tailscale at my work so I wonder if something got weird in the networking that cursor was using?

@andre-qumulo – with tailscale, it should open the window in the background to authenticate. But, if that doesn’t happen, you might have to click the link in the logs. Definitely could be something related to the network as well.

I able to ssh in a terminal. But still cannot mirror my IDE.

@Valery_Pegg – could you share the full logs from the “Remote - SSH” output window?