Subject: Windows — Extension host `retrieval-always-local` crashes repeatedly (`cursor-retrieval` / `cursor-always-local` / `cursor-resolver`)

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1

Summary

After updating Cursor (environment unchanged), the local extension host with role retrieval-always-local repeatedly terminates unexpectedly. The same happens when opening a specific repo (conversations under a multi-root workspace). Agent features then degrade: agent-exec session acquisition timeouts, Failed to flush aggregating provider batch Canceled, sometimes Timeout waiting for EverythingProvider, and ConnectError / ECONNRESET to Cursor APIs.

Expected

Stable extension host; indexing / retrieval should not crash in a loop.

Actual

renderer.log shows many lines like:
Extension host (LocalProcess [role: retrieval-always-local] pid: …) terminated unexpectedly. The following extensions were running: anysphere.cursor-always-local, anysphere.cursor-resolver, anysphere.cursor-retrieval

Environment

  • OS: Windows 10/11 (build ~26200)
  • Cursor: please paste exact version from Help → About Cursor
  • Workspace: multi-root including …\owmc.git\bybitbot and …\owmc.git\conversations (and/or code-workspace file)

What we tried

  • Updated Cursor to latest version — issue persists
  • Added .cursorignore to reduce embeddable file count (e.g. down to ~12 files) — crashes still occur

Attachment

Zip: cursor-bugreport-logs-partial.zip (in Downloads) — key files from session folder 20260321T161636 under %APPDATA%\Cursor\logs\:

  • window1/renderer.log
  • window1/exthost/exthost.log
  • window1/exthost/anysphere.cursor-retrieval/Cursor Indexing & Retrieval.log
  • window1/exthost/anysphere.cursor-retrieval/Cursor Grep Service.log
  • window1/exthost/anysphere.cursor-always-local/Filesync.log
  • main.log
  • sharedprocess.log

If support needs the full session: close Cursor completely, then zip the entire folder %APPDATA%\Cursor\logs\<newest-session-name>\ or use Help → Export Logs in Cursor.

Related discussions (similar symptoms)

  • Forum: Extension host terminated unexpectedly on a specific repository (mentions cursor-retrieval / cursor-always-local in crash list)
  • GitHub: cursor/cursor issue #2033 (cursor-always-local crashes)

Thank you.

2

Hi there!

We detected that this may be a bug report, so we’ve moved your post to the Bug Reports category.

To help us investigate and fix this faster, could you edit your original post to include the details from the template below?

Bug Report Template - Click to expand

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

  • Cursor IDE
  • Cursor CLI
  • Background Agent (GitHub, Slack, Web, Linear)
  • BugBot
  • Somewhere else…

Describe the Bug
A clear and concise description of what the bug is.

Steps to Reproduce
How can you reproduce this bug? We have a much better chance at fixing issues if we can reproduce them!

  1. …
  2. …
  3. …

Expected Behavior
What is meant to happen here that isn’t working correctly?

Screenshots / Screen Recordings
If applicable, attach images or videos (.jpg, .png, .gif, .mp4, .mov)

Operating System

  • Windows 10/11
  • MacOS
  • Linux

Version Information

  • For Cursor IDE: Menu → About Cursor → Copy
  • For Cursor CLI: Run agent about in your terminal
IDE:
Version: 2.xx.x
VSCode Version: 1.105.1
Commit: ......

CLI:
CLI Version 2026.01.17-d239e66

For AI issues: which model did you use?
Model name (e.g., Sonnet 4, Tab…)

For AI issues: add Request ID with privacy disabled
Request ID: f9a7046a-279b-47e5-ab48-6e8dc12daba1
For Background Agent issues, also post the ID: bc-…

Additional Information
Add any other context about the problem here.

Does this stop you from using Cursor?

  • Yes - Cursor is unusable
  • Sometimes - I can sometimes use Cursor
  • No - Cursor works, but with this issue

The more details you provide, the easier it is for us to reproduce and fix the issue. Thanks!

4

Hey, thanks for the detailed report and logs. This is a known issue with the retrieval-always-local extension host crashing on Windows, and we’re seeing it for a few users.

The crash happens in the native crepectl binary, which handles local indexing. .cursorignore won’t help here because it’s not about the number of files, it’s the indexing process itself.

Can you try this:

  • Cursor Settings (not VS Code settings) > Indexing & Docs
  • Turn off Index Repositories for Instant Grep (BETA). This is the main trigger.
  • If that doesn’t help, also turn off Codebase Indexing
  • Restart Cursor

You’ll lose local codebase search, but chat, agent, and Cursor Tab will still work. For another user, Instant Grep (BETA) was the cause, especially on larger projects: Extension host terminated unexpectedly always - #6 by facio313

One more thing, do you have any VPN software installed on the machine, even if it’s not running? For one user, fully uninstalling the VPN fixed it: Extension host terminated unexpectedly no matter what i try - #9 by Brian_Walch

A couple things to help with diagnosis:

  • Your exact Cursor version: Help > About Cursor > Copy
  • Rough file count in the workspace without .cursorignore

Let me know how it goes after turning off indexing.

6

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

The local extension host crashes repeatedly (3 times within 5 minutes) with exit code 18446744072635810000. The affected extensions are anysphere.cursor-always-local, anysphere.cursor-resolver, and anysphere.cursor-retrieval.

Steps to Reproduce

Open Cursor on Windows
Open any project folder
Extension host (role: retrieval-always-local) crashes automatically within minutes
Repeats continuously

Expected Behavior

Extension host stays running normally.

Actual behavior: Extension host terminates unexpectedly with code 18446744072635810000. AI features (chat, completions) stop working. Cursor shows “Extension host terminated unexpectedly 3 times within the last 5 minutes.”

Operating System

Windows 10/11

Version Information

2.6.21
fea2f546c979a0a4ad1deab23552a43568807590
x64

Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue