After updating Cursor to the latest version, the behavior of the file icon/explorer has changed unexpectedly. Previously, clicking the file icon would toggle or display the main project directory tree. Now, when I click it, the file tree area remains completely empty, and it forcefully opens a new, blank file tab named “Untitled-1”. It is highly inconvenient as I can no longer easily navigate my project files from the sidebar.
Steps to Reproduce
Update Cursor to the latest version.
Open a project workspace (e.g., biz-solution).
Click on the file explorer/icon area or try to view the directory tree.
Observe that the center-right file tree area is blank (as shown in the red rectangle in the screenshot), and an “Untitled-1” tab is automatically created instead of rendering the project file list.
Expected Behavior
Clicking the file icon or interacting with the file explorer should properly render the project’s folder structure (the biz-solution directory tree) in the sidebar pane, allowing for normal file navigation without automatically creating empty “Untitled” tabs.
Hey, thanks for the screenshot, it clears things up. Good news, the project tree didn’t actually disappear. It’s on the right side of the screenshot, biz-solution with all the folders src, packages, domain, node_modules, etc. is expanded normally.
After the update, the layout changed. In the new Agents Window, the file tree moved from the left sidebar to the right panel, and the left side now shows the list of Workspaces and agents. That’s why it feels like the sidebar is gone.
If you prefer the classic layout with the tree on the left, switch via Open Editor Window. Press Cmd+Shift+P and run Open Editor Window, or use the button in the top bar of the window. You’ll get the usual Explorer on the left, like before.
One more thing, there’s an empty Untitled-1 tab that opens when you click the icon. Can you confirm if it’s actually blocking your work, or if the main issue was just the “missing” tree? Your answer will tell me if we should look into the Untitled behavior separately.
Thanks for pointing that out! I see the project tree on the right now. However, the new layout is causing some serious usability issues for me and my team.
The main problem right now is actually that empty Untitled-1 tab. It’s significantly disrupting my workflow. The project file tree already takes up a lot of screen real estate, and now this forced Untitled-1 tab—which I almost never use—wastes even more valuable space.
To be honest, this feels like a very poor design choice. It clutters the workspace so much that several of my colleagues have actually decided to stop upgrading Cursor altogether because of this specific change.
I’d really appreciate it if the team could look into a way to disable or remove this behavior.
Glad you found the folder tree. For the rest, the easiest option for you and the team is to switch back to the classic default Editor Window. That removes the auto Untitled-1, frees up space, and brings back the familiar layout.
How to do it:
Cursor Settings > Agents > Open Agents Window on Startup > turn it Off. After that, Cursor will start in the regular Editor Window with Explorer on the left.
Switch in the current session right away: Cmd+Shift+N or Command Palette Cmd+Shift+P then run Open Editor Window. There’s also an IDE button in the top bar.
This gives you the classic three-panel layout without a forced empty tab. I think this will also remove the main annoyance for coworkers after the update.
About the auto-opening Untitled-1 in the Agents Window, I’ll pass this on as UX feedback. I can’t share an ETA, but I’ll reply in the thread if there’s an update. If anything still feels off after switching to Editor Window, let me know.
