---
name: kunanonj/cursor-update-cursor-settings
source: https://app.decimal.ai/s/kunanonj-cursor-update-cursor-settings@1/SKILL.md
source_sha256: 6c311e9ae6d2
---

# Updating Cursor Settings

Modify Cursor/VSCode user settings. Use this when you want to change editor settings, preferences, configuration, themes, keybindings, or any `settings.json` values.

## Settings File Location

| OS | Path |
|----|------|
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/settings.json |
| Linux | ~/.config/Cursor/User/settings.json |
| Windows | %APPDATA%\Cursor\User\settings.json |

## Before Modifying Settings

1. **Read the existing settings file** to understand current configuration
2. **Preserve existing settings** — only add/modify what the user requested
3. **Validate JSON syntax** before writing to avoid breaking the editor

## Modifying Settings

### Step 1: Read Current Settings

Read the settings file first to get current contents.

### Step 2: Identify the Setting to Change

Common setting categories:
- **Editor**: `editor.fontSize`, `editor.tabSize`, `editor.wordWrap`, `editor.formatOnSave`
- **Workbench**: `workbench.colorTheme`, `workbench.iconTheme`, `workbench.sideBar.location`
- **Files**: `files.autoSave`, `files.exclude`, `files.associations`
- **Terminal**: `terminal.integrated.fontSize`, `terminal.integrated.shell.*`
- **Cursor-specific**: Settings prefixed with `cursor.` or `aipopup.`

### Step 3: Update the Setting

1. Parse the existing JSON (handle comments — VSCode settings support JSON with comments)
2. Add or update the requested setting
3. Preserve all other existing settings
4. Write back with proper formatting (2-space indentation)

## Important Notes

1. **JSON with Comments**: VSCode/Cursor settings.json supports comments (`//` and `/* */`). Preserve comments when possible.
2. **Restart May Be Required**: Some settings take effect immediately, others require reloading.
3. **Workspace vs User Settings**:
   - User settings: Apply globally to all projects
   - Workspace settings (`.vscode/settings.json`): Apply only to the current project
4. **Commit Attribution**: For CLI agent, modify `~/.cursor/cli-config.json`. For IDE agent, it is controlled from **Cursor Settings > Agent > Attribution**.

## Common User Requests → Settings

| User Request | Setting |
|--------------|---------|
| "bigger/smaller font" | `editor.fontSize` |
| "change tab size" | `editor.tabSize` |
| "format on save" | `editor.formatOnSave` |
| "word wrap" | `editor.wordWrap` |
| "change theme" | `workbench.colorTheme` |
| "hide minimap" | `editor.minimap.enabled` |
| "auto save" | `files.autoSave` |
| "line numbers" | `editor.lineNumbers` |
| "bracket matching" | `editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled` |
| "smooth scrolling" | `editor.smoothScrolling` |

## Workflow

1. Read the settings file
2. Parse the JSON content
3. Add/modify the requested setting(s)
4. Write the updated JSON back
5. Inform the user whether a reload is needed