Installation and Download of Cursor

Overview

Cursor is a powerful AI-assisted programming tool, and its installation process is simple and intuitive. This guide will help you successfully download and install Cursor, enabling you to quickly start using this revolutionary code editor.

System Requirements

Before starting the installation, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

1. Operating System:

   • Windows 10 or later
   • macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later
   • Linux (Ubuntu 18.04 or later; other distributions may also be supported)

2. Hardware Requirements:

   • At least 4GB of RAM (8GB or more recommended)
   • 2GB of available disk space

3. Network:

   • A stable internet connection (required for downloading and AI functionalities)
   • No need for VPN during the download process

4. Other:

   • The latest version of Git (for version control features)

Download Steps

1. Visit the Official Website:

   • Open your web browser and visit Cursor's official website: https://cursor.sh

2. Start the Download:

   • Click "Download for free."
   • Depending on your browser settings, the download will start automatically.

3. Wait for the Download to Complete:

   • Note that you are downloading an installer package, not the software itself. The installer is small, so the download will be quick.

Installation Process

Windows:

1. Locate the downloaded installation file (usually in .exe format).
2. Double-click the installation file to launch the installation wizard.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the installation location and other options.
4. Click "Install" and wait for the process to complete.
5. Once installed, click "Finish."

macOS:

1. Locate the downloaded .zip file.
2. Double-click to open the .zip file and extract its contents.
3. Double-click the extracted file to begin downloading the Cursor software.
4. Find Cursor in your Applications folder and double-click to open it.
5. If a security warning appears, go to "System Preferences" > "Security & Privacy" and allow the app to open.

Linux:

1. Download the .AppImage file.
2. Open a terminal and navigate to the download directory.
3. Use the following command to grant the file execute permission:
   chmod +x Cursor-x.x.x.AppImage
   

4. Double-click the file or run it from the terminal to start Cursor.

First Launch Configuration

1. Launch Cursor:

   • Open Cursor from the Start menu, Applications folder, or desktop shortcut.

2. Sign In or Create an Account:

   • On the first launch, you will need to sign in or create a Cursor account.
   • Click on the top left corner "Cursor - Preferences - Cursor Settings" in the editor center, and the interface will appear as shown below. Click "Sign In."
   • Then click "Sign Up" to register.
   • Fill in your username and email. Note that when verifying a QQ email, the verification code may not display correctly, but using a 126 email works fine. If this issue persists due to policy changes, you may need a VPN. You can refer to this link, which I personally use:
     [VPN] (https://fib-acc.net/auth/register?code=fFlL)
   • You will receive a verification code by email; just enter it.

3. Account Types: Cursor offers three types of accounts:

   • Hobby: Free plan, which includes a two-week Pro trial, 2,000 code completions per month, 50 slow-priority advanced requests, and 200 uses of the Cursor-small model. Cursor-small is a faster model suitable for quick editing tasks.

   • Pro: $20 per month, including all features from the Hobby plan, with unlimited code completions, 500 fast-priority advanced requests per month, unlimited slow-priority advanced requests, unlimited Cursor-small usage, and 10 daily uses of Claude Opus. High-end models include GPT-4, GPT-4o, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Fast-priority requests are handled first, and any requests exceeding this limit may be queued during high load times.

   • Business: $40 per user per month, including all Pro plan features and additional centralized billing, administrator usage dashboards, mandatory privacy mode, and OpenAI/Anthropic zero-data retention policies. Privacy mode ensures that code is stored only on the user's device and will not be used for training. Some Cursor features are not supported through API key billing. If the user exceeds the plan’s limits, Cursor will prompt for an upgrade.

   Based on personal experience, the Hobby free plan is sufficient for small projects, though there are ways to get around the limitations, such as registering multiple emails. You can check out this article for more details.

4. Explore Tutorials:

   • Cursor will offer a brief introductory tutorial, which you can choose to ignore for now.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the installation process:

1. Make sure you have administrator privileges.
2. Temporarily disable antivirus software.
3. Verify that your system meets the minimum requirements.
4. Join my community to ask questions at any time. I will assist you with troubleshooting; the QR code for joining is at the end of this guide.

Conclusion

Once these steps are completed, Cursor will be successfully installed on your system. You can now start exploring the powerful features of Cursor and experience the efficiency boost provided by AI-assisted programming. Remember to check for updates regularly to ensure you are using the latest version of Cursor and enjoying the newest features and improvements.