When updating Cursor, it makes you download the latest version from the Cursor · Download link. However, when I download and run the installer, it hangs at the “Preparing to Install” window. When I check Task Manager, it shows the process is using 0% CPU - so it’s not actively doing anything. I’ve let it sit for over an hour, nothing changed. I’ve tried removing the installer and downloading it again - same problem.
I have tried installing the following (x64) versions with the same result:
3.8.11
3.7.42
3.6.31
3.5.38
3.4.20
When trying to open my current version of Cursor, it tells me I cannot use it because it needs an update.
@allvt hey sorry you have this issue, have you tried launching the installation with admin privilege? Like if you right click on it and click run as admin, maybe that could unblock it, also.. rebooting your machine perhaps
Hey, thanks for the detailed report. This is a known class of issue on Windows. Preparing to Install gets stuck with 0% CPU because the installer extracts a temporary CursorSetup-x64.tmp, and something on the system side blocks it. Most often it’s an antivirus or EDR holding a handle on that file, or there’s a stuck install process, or SmartScreen and Program Files permissions get in the way.
Tom_Coustols already pointed out the right idea with admin plus reboot. Here’s the full set of steps that fixed this for other users:
In Task Manager, close all CursorSetup, CursorSetup-x64-*.tmp, and Cursor processes.
Download a fresh installer from Cursor · Download and run it with Run as administrator. You can also try the per-user installer instead of the system setup since it doesn’t run into Program Files permissions or locks.
Let me know if it still hangs after that and we’ll dig deeper.
I appreciate your quick response and suggestions. I have tried all of those steps and still no change in behavior.
I killed all Cursor-related processes, cleared %temp%, disabled BitDefender and Windows Defender, rebooted, downloaded a fresh installer, then ran as admin. I rinsed and repeated a couple times, but still the same result.
Thanks for running through the whole list. If the standard steps didn’t work, the block is probably deeper in the system. Let’s collect a bit more info and try a couple targeted things.
The main thing that’ll help us see where the install gets stuck is the install log. Run the installer with logging from PowerShell or cmd:
Let it sit for a couple minutes, then close it and paste the end of the file here, the last lines usually show which step is hanging. If the file doesn’t show up at that path, check %TEMP% for a recent Setup Log *.txt.
While you’re grabbing the log, also check this:
Per-user installer. If you tried the system setup that installs into Program Files, download the user setup from Cursor · Download instead. It installs into %localappdata% and avoids Program Files permission and lock issues.
Controlled Folder Access. In Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Ransomware protection, this can stay enabled even if you turned off real-time protection. Temporarily disable it during the install.
Free disk space. Make sure you’ve got a few GB free on the system drive.
Is this a work or corporate machine? If it’s managed by IT, AppLocker, WDAC, or an EDR can block the temporary .tmp process that Inno Setup extracts into the temp folder when it starts. That won’t be fixed by turning off Defender. Best next step is to check with your IT team which policies apply to running apps from temp.
Send the log and tell me if it’s a corporate machine, and we’ll narrow it down from there.
