How to Use Cursor AI: The Complete 2025 Guide

What is Cursor AI?

Step 1: Installation & Setup

Download Cursor

1. Go to cursor.sh
2. Download for your OS (Windows, Mac, Linux)
3. Install like any app
4. Open Cursor

Import VS Code Settings (Optional)

Cursor can import your entire VS Code setup:

1. Open Cursor
2. Press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P
3. Type "Import VS Code Settings"
4. Select your VS Code profile

Result: All your extensions, themes, and keybindings are now in Cursor!

Sign In & Choose AI Model

1. Click "Sign In" (top right)
2. Create account (free)
3. Go to Settings → AI Model
4. Choose: GPT-4, Claude 3.5, or Gemini Pro

My Recommendation: Start with Claude 3.5 Sonnet (best for coding).

Step 2: Master the 4 Core Features

Feature 1: Tab Autocomplete (Like Copilot, But Better)

How it works: Start typing, Cursor suggests code. Press Tab to accept.

Example:

// Function to calculate fibonacci

function fibonacci(n) {
  if (n <= 1) return n;
  return fibonacci(n - 1) + fibonacci(n - 2);
}

Pro Tip: Write detailed comments first. Cursor uses them as context.

Feature 2: Cmd+K (Inline Editing)

Shortcut: Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows)

What it does: Edit code with natural language commands.

Example Use Cases:

• "Add error handling to this function"
• "Convert this to TypeScript"
• "Optimize this loop for performance"
• "Add JSDoc comments"

Step-by-Step:

1. Select code you want to edit
2. Press Cmd+K
3. Type your instruction
4. Press Enter
5. Cursor rewrites the code
6. Press Tab to accept or Esc to reject

Feature 3: Cmd+L (Chat with AI)

Shortcut: Cmd+L (Mac) or Ctrl+L (Windows)

What it does: Opens AI chat sidebar. Ask questions about your code.

Example Questions:

• "Explain what this function does"
• "How can I optimize this code?"
• "Find bugs in this file"
• "Write unit tests for this component"

Pro Tip: Use @filename to reference specific files:

"@utils.js explain the parseDate function"

Feature 4: Agent Mode (The Game-Changer)

Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+L or click "Agent" in chat

What it does: AI autonomously completes entire tasks across multiple files.

Example Task:

When to Use Agent Mode:

• Building new features from scratch
• Refactoring multiple files
• Setting up boilerplate code
• Writing comprehensive tests

Step 3: Advanced Techniques

1. Multi-File Context

Cursor understands your entire codebase, not just the current file.

How to use:

1. Open chat (Cmd+L)
2. Type @codebase
3. Ask questions about your project

Example:

"@codebase where is the user authentication logic?"

2. Cursor Rules (.cursorrules)

Create a .cursorrules file in your project root to set coding standards.

Example .cursorrules:

- Always use TypeScript
- Follow Airbnb style guide
- Add JSDoc comments to all functions
- Use async/await instead of promises
- Prefer functional programming

Result: Cursor follows these rules when generating code!

3. Composer Mode (Multi-File Editing)

Shortcut: Cmd+I

What it does: Edit multiple files simultaneously with one command.

Example:

"Rename 'userId' to 'accountId' across all files"

Step 4: Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Step 5: Pro Tips & Best Practices

1. Write Better Prompts

Bad Prompt: "Fix this"

Good Prompt: "Add error handling for network failures and validate user input"

2. Use Comments as Instructions

Cursor reads comments to understand context:

// TODO: Add pagination with 10 items per page
// Use React hooks, not class components

3. Review AI-Generated Code

Never blindly accept AI code. Always:

• Read the generated code
• Test it thoroughly
• Check for security issues
• Verify edge cases

4. Combine with GitHub Copilot

You can use both Cursor and Copilot:

• Cursor: For complex, multi-file tasks
• Copilot: For simple autocomplete

Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: Which is Better?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Relying 100% on AI: You still need to understand the code
2. Not reviewing generated code: AI makes mistakes
3. Vague prompts: Be specific for better results
4. Ignoring .cursorrules: Set coding standards early
5. Not using Agent Mode: It's the killer feature!

Final Thoughts