Cursor Not Working: Fixes for the Most Common Errors
When Cursor stops working, the most common causes are a failed AI model connection, an expired API key or subscription, a corrupted extension state, or a VS Code compatibility issue. Start by checking your Cursor account status at cursor.com, then reload the window with Ctrl+Shift+P → Reload Window. Most Cursor issues are resolved by signing out and back in or reinstalling the app.
Why Cursor Stops Working
Cursor combines a code editor with AI capabilities, so issues can come from either layer. Understanding which layer is failing saves diagnostic time.
- AI connection failures — Problems reaching Cursor's AI backend: expired subscription, network blocks, or backend outage
- Editor issues — Problems in the VS Code foundation: extension conflicts, corrupted settings, or cache issues
- Authentication issues — Expired session, wrong account, or subscription not synced
- Performance issues — Large codebases, low memory, or indexing failures
Step-by-Step Fix
1. Check Cursor's Status and Your Subscription
Go to cursor.com/account and confirm your subscription is active. Also check if Cursor has a status page or posts updates on their Twitter/X account for backend outages.
If your free trial or subscription has expired, AI features will stop working. This is the most common cause of sudden failures in Cursor.
2. Reload the Window
The fastest general fix for most Cursor issues:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on Mac)
- Type Reload Window
- Press Enter
This resets the extension host and AI connection without closing your editor.
3. Sign Out and Sign Back In
A stale authentication token causes many persistent Cursor errors:
- Open command palette: Ctrl+Shift+P
- Type Cursor: Sign Out and run it
- Wait for the sign-out to complete
- Sign back in with the same account used for your subscription
- Check if AI features work after signing in
4. Check Your Network and VPN
Cursor's AI features require outbound HTTPS connections to Cursor's API servers:
- Disable any VPN and retry — VPN endpoints are frequently blocked or throttled for AI services
- Test on a different network (phone hotspot) to rule out network-level blocks
- If on a corporate network, AI traffic may be filtered — check with your IT team
5. Update Cursor
Open Help → Check for Updates and install any available updates. Cursor releases frequent bug-fix versions, and running an outdated version is a common cause of compatibility issues.
6. Clear Cursor's Cache
If reloading and signing in do not help, clear the cache:
Mac/Linux:
~/.cursor/cache
~/.cursor/logs
Windows:
%APPDATA%\Cursor\Cache
%APPDATA%\Cursor\logs
Close Cursor, delete these folders, and reopen.
7. Disable Conflicting Extensions
Extensions can conflict with Cursor's AI features. Disable all non-essential extensions through the Extensions panel and test. Re-enable them one at a time to find any conflicts.
8. Reinstall Cursor
If nothing else works, a clean reinstall resolves corrupted installations:
- Uninstall Cursor
- Delete any remaining Cursor folders from your user directory
- Download the latest version from cursor.com
- Install and sign in fresh
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not checking subscription status first — If your trial ended, no amount of troubleshooting will restore AI features. Always check this first.
- Assuming a VS Code extension will work identically in Cursor — Most VS Code extensions work, but some conflict with Cursor's AI layer. Extensions that modify the editor's language server are the most likely to cause problems.
- Ignoring the .cursorignore file — Including massive generated files or node_modules in AI context slows Cursor down dramatically and can cause timeouts that look like crashes.
- Running Cursor and VS Code simultaneously on large projects — Both applications indexing the same codebase simultaneously can exhaust memory on lower-spec machines.
Cursor on Windows vs Mac vs Linux
A few platform-specific issues are worth knowing:
Windows: Antivirus software sometimes blocks Cursor's AI network requests. Add Cursor to your antivirus allow list if you see frequent connection failures.
Mac: After macOS updates, Cursor occasionally loses keychain access for stored credentials. If you are prompted to sign in repeatedly, go to Keychain Access, search for Cursor, and delete any stored items, then sign in fresh.
Linux: Cursor on Linux sometimes has issues with the system keyring for credential storage. If login keeps failing, try running Cursor with --password-store=basic flag to use a simpler credential storage method.
Related Articles
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Troubleshooting the wrong account or workspace.
- Retrying without checking whether there is an active outage or plan restriction.
- Clearing local state only after multiple failed attempts instead of testing in a clean browser first.
What to Gather Before Contacting Support
- Capture the exact error message and the time it happened.
- Record whether the issue happens on another browser, device, or network.
- Note which account, workspace, or subscription plan is affected.
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