Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item

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1

Cursor shuts down automatically while I’m using it. When I attempt to open it again, Windows pops up an error message: “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.” How do I resolve this problem?

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4

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9

一模一样的问题,解决了吗请问?

10

您好，这是 Windows 系统下的安装问题。每次更新 Cursor 编辑器时，Windows 都会出现程序异常故障。我找到的解决办法是：找到更新程序的 exe 文件，然后以管理员权限运行它。

在 Windows 系统中，该文件路径如下：

C:\Users****\AppData\Local\Temp\vscode-stable-user-x64-vrcmyf1xd9j（不同版本，文件夹名称会有变化）

将路径里的 **** 替换成你自己的 Windows 用户名，更新程序文件就在这个文件夹内。

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12

@zflhcc123 @sdkjwwb

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Hey, this is a known issue with the Windows auto-updater. During an update, the old version can get removed before the new one finishes installing. For example if the PC was shut down or rebooted mid-update, or if antivirus kept file handles open. Then Cursor.exe goes missing and the shortcut points to nothing, which causes the Windows error.

How to fix it right now:

  1. Download and install the latest version from Cursor · Download. Your settings and chats in %APPDATA%\Cursor will be kept.
  2. If SmartScreen pops up, click More info then Run anyway. That’s normal for the official installer.

How to reduce the chance it happens again:

  • Fully quit Cursor before shutting down or rebooting your PC, including the tray icon.
  • You can turn off auto-update in Settings → Application → Update and update manually.
  • If you use antivirus or Defender, add the install folder %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\cursor to exclusions.

Also, @Tom_Coustols suggested a working option by running the updater from %LOCALAPPDATA%\Temp\ as admin. That works too, but a clean reinstall is simpler.

This bug is known and being tracked. I can’t share an ETA for a fix yet. Let me know if reinstalling didn’t help.

15

没有这个文件，非常奇怪，是不是我重新安装引起的。

16

还是没有解决问题，无语打开软件。

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17

没有解决，你找到解决方法没有？

18

@zflhcc123 你试过上面的解决办法了吗？我今早也按这个方法操作了，对我是有效的（我记得你还得暂时关闭Windows Defender，安装完成后再重新开启就行）

20

Hey, thanks for coming back with an update. Since a clean reinstall didn’t help and it’s the same error, it’s almost certainly that your antivirus or Windows Defender is blocking or deleting Cursor.exe (the “no permissions to access” error is usually about that, or the file is already missing from that path).

Let’s do this:

  1. Open File Explorer and go to E:\Software\cursor\ and check if Cursor.exe is actually there. If the file is missing, your antivirus removed it. Check Defender quarantine.
  2. Temporarily disable Windows Defender or your antivirus real-time protection, like @Tom_Coustols suggested.
  3. Reinstall the latest version from Cursor · Download. I recommend installing to the default folder, not on drive E.
  4. After installing, add the Cursor folder to Defender exclusions: Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings → Exclusions, then turn protection back on.
  5. If SmartScreen shows up, click More info → Run anyway. That’s normal for the official installer.

To make this happen less often: fully close Cursor (including the tray icon) before restarting or shutting down your PC. You can also disable auto-update in Settings → Application → Update and update manually.

This is a known Windows auto-updater bug. It’s being tracked, but I can’t share an ETA for a fix yet. Let me know if disabling Defender during install helped.

21

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安装文件里有Cursor.exe这文件；没有你说的问题，非常奇怪。

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安装在C盘也还是一样，无法使用；无解了。

23

Thanks for the screenshot, that changes things. Since Cursor.exe is in E:\Software\cursor\, the issue isn’t a missing file, it’s that Windows can’t launch it. Let’s check step by step:

  1. Go to E:\Software\cursor\, right-click Cursor.exe → Run as administrator. Does it open?
  2. If not, right-click Cursor.exe → Properties. If there’s an Unblock checkbox at the bottom of the General tab (with text like “This file came from another computer…”), check it and click Apply. This removes the download block.
  3. Check whether your antivirus or Windows Defender is blocking the launch (launching, not deleting). Add E:\Software\cursor to exclusions: Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings → Exclusions. Also check Defender quarantine.
  4. If launching Cursor.exe directly works, but the desktop or Start Menu shortcut shows an error, the shortcut likely points to an old path. Delete it and create a new one: right-click Cursor.exe → Send to → Desktop.
  5. If nothing helps, uninstall the current install and install a fresh version from Cursor · Download, but install it to the default folder on drive C, not E. Installing on a separate drive can sometimes cause permission issues. Your settings and chats in %APPDATA%\Cursor will stay.

To avoid this happening again, fully close Cursor (including the tray icon) before restarting or shutting down your PC.

Tell me what you get in step 1, does Cursor.exe launch directly when you use Run as administrator. The next steps depend on that.