Updating Cursor Settings

This skill guides you through modifying Cursor/VSCode user settings. Use this when the user wants to change editor settings, preferences, configuration, themes, keybindings, or any settings.json values.

CRITICAL: Check Existing First

Before modifying ANY settings, verify:

1. Read current settings:

cat ~/.config/Cursor/User/settings.json 2>/dev/null | head -50  # Linux
cat ~/Library/Application\ Support/Cursor/User/settings.json 2>/dev/null | head -50  # macOS

1. Check for workspace settings:

cat .vscode/settings.json 2>/dev/null

1. Understand current state:

• What's the current value of the setting?
• Are there conflicting workspace settings?

Why: Preserve existing settings. Only modify what's requested.

Settings File Location

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
const settingsPath = "~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/settings.json";
// Use the Read tool 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

When modifying settings.json:

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)

Example: Changing Font Size

If user says "make the font bigger":

{
  "editor.fontSize": 16
}

Example: Enabling Format on Save

If user says "format my code when I save":

{
  "editor.formatOnSave": true
}

Example: Changing Theme

If user says "use dark theme" or "change my theme":

{
  "workbench.colorTheme": "Default Dark Modern"
}

Important Notes

1. JSON with Comments: VSCode/Cursor settings.json supports comments (// and /* */). When reading, be aware comments may exist. When writing, preserve comments if possible.

1. Restart May Be Required: Some settings take effect immediately, others require reloading the window or restarting Cursor. Inform the user if a restart is needed.

1. Backup: For significant changes, consider mentioning the user can undo via Ctrl/Cmd+Z in the settings file or by reverting git changes if tracked.

1. Workspace vs User Settings:

• User settings (what this skill covers): Apply globally to all projects
• Workspace settings (.vscode/settings.json): Apply only to the current project

Common User Requests → Settings

Workflow

1. Read ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/settings.json
2. Parse the JSON content
3. Add/modify the requested setting(s)
4. Write the updated JSON back to the file
5. Inform the user the setting has been changed and whether a reload is needed