How to Switch from VS Code to Cursor (2026): Import Your Setup in Minutes
Switching from VS Code to Cursor is easier than most editor migrations for one reason: Cursor is a fork of VS Code. You are not learning a new editor — you are moving into a familiar one that has an AI agent built in. The migration is mostly a guided import during first launch, and because nothing is destructive on the VS Code side, you can run both in parallel while you decide. Here is the honest, ordered walkthrough, followed by when to skip it.
The migration, step by step
1) Install Cursor from the official site and open it. 2) During onboarding, choose to import from VS Code — this brings over your extensions, keybindings, settings, and theme in one step, so the editor opens looking like the one you left. 3) Open a real repository you know well. 4) Verify the extensions you depend on actually loaded: Cursor resolves extensions through Open VSX rather than Microsoft's Marketplace, so most work, but confirm any critical or Microsoft-published ones before you rely on them. 5) Sign in and set up the agent, then run one bounded task — a small fix or a new endpoint — to feel the agent loop. 6) Keep VS Code installed until you're sure; there is no lock-in and no cleanup required to go back.
What to check during the trial
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Critical extensions loaded | Open VSX covers most, but confirm Microsoft-only ones before depending on them |
| Keybindings and theme feel right | Imported automatically; a quick sanity check saves surprises |
| Debugger/language server for your stack | Confirm your debugging workflow still works on a real run |
| The agent on a bounded task | This is what you're paying $20/month for — test it, don't assume |
When not to switch
Two cases make migration the wrong move regardless of how easy it is. First, completions-only usage: if you never hand work to an agent, VS Code with a $10 Copilot plan does what you need for half of Cursor Pro's price, and the import effort buys you nothing. Second, a hard dependency on a Microsoft-Marketplace-only extension: because Cursor uses Open VSX, a specific Microsoft extension you rely on may be missing, and no import can fix that. In both cases the smart move is to verify during the free trial and keep VS Code as your daily driver.
Frequently asked questions
Will switching to Cursor break my VS Code setup?
No. Installing Cursor and importing your configuration does not modify or remove VS Code — the two run side by side, and the import copies your extensions, keybindings, settings, and theme rather than moving them. You can use Cursor for a week and go back to VS Code with nothing to clean up. This low-risk reversibility is a direct result of Cursor being a VS Code fork. Checked 2026-07-10.
Do all my VS Code extensions work in Cursor?
Most do, because Cursor is built on VS Code, but not guaranteed all. Cursor resolves extensions through Open VSX instead of Microsoft's official Marketplace, so a small number of Microsoft-published extensions may be unavailable. During the trial, open a real project and confirm your critical extensions and debugger load before relying on Cursor for daily work. Checked 2026-07-10.
Is it worth paying for Cursor after switching?
Cursor has a free Hobby tier for evaluation; working use is Pro at $20/month. It's worth paying if the agent — reading your repo, editing across files, running tasks — becomes your default way to work. If your hour with the agent during the trial doesn't change how you code, the import was cheap and you can simply keep using free VS Code. Decide from the trial, and verify current pricing on cursor.com/pricing. Checked 2026-07-10.
Bottom line: the switch itself is minutes of guided import, not a rebuild, because Cursor is a VS Code fork — so the migration is never the hard part. The real decision is whether the built-in agent earns $20/month over free VS Code. Import your setup, keep VS Code installed, spend an hour with the agent on real work, and let that decide. Verify current Cursor tiers on the official pricing page before you pay.
Sources and evidence
Sources
- Cursor product siteChecked 2026-07-10Medium volatility
Use for Cursor being built on VS Code with onboarding that imports extensions, keybindings, settings, and theme; not for exact UI wording, which can change.
- Cursor pricingChecked 2026-07-10High volatility
Use only for the free Hobby tier existing and Pro starting at $20/month; verify exact allowances before purchase.