Last updated: March 16, 2026

Copy your Cursor settings.json, keybindings.json, and theme files directly into VSCode’s configuration directory — since Cursor is a VSCode fork, most settings transfer without modification. Back up your Cursor config from ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/ (macOS), install the GitHub Copilot and Copilot Chat extensions in VSCode, then paste your editor settings while removing Cursor-specific keys like cursor.aiEnabled. The shared foundation between both editors means your fonts, layout, panel positions, and keyboard shortcuts carry over with minimal adjustment.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Shared Foundation

Cursor and Visual Studio Code are built on the same underlying technology. Cursor is a fork of VSCode with additional AI features built on top. This means your theme files, keyboard shortcuts, and many configuration settings work in both editors without modification.

The primary difference lies in how each editor handles AI assistance. Cursor has its own AI integration built around its proprietary models and agent mode, while VSCode relies on GitHub Copilot through an extension. Understanding this relationship helps you plan your migration strategy effectively.

Both editors share the same extension marketplace, the same settings JSON format, the same keybindings format, and the same underlying Monaco editor engine. The only divergences are Cursor-specific settings that begin with the cursor. prefix, which should be removed rather than carried over.

Exporting Your Cursor Settings

Before configuring VSCode, gather all your current Cursor customizations. The most important files to export are your theme configuration and editor settings.

Locating Cursor Configuration Files

Cursor stores its configuration in several locations depending on your operating system. The primary locations include:

On Windows, these paths translate to %APPDATA%\Cursor\User\, and on Linux they reside in ~/.config/Cursor/User/.

Extracting Theme Configuration

Your Cursor theme consists of two components: the color scheme and the UI customization. Copy the following files from your Cursor configuration directory to a temporary location for reference:

# Create a backup directory and copy Cursor settings
mkdir -p ~/cursor-migration

# macOS paths
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Cursor/User/settings.json ~/cursor-migration/settings-cursor.json
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Cursor/User/keybindings.json ~/cursor-migration/keybindings-cursor.json

# List your installed Cursor extensions for reference
ls ~/.cursor/extensions/ > ~/cursor-migration/extensions-list.txt

If you installed custom themes from the VSCode marketplace, note their names for reinstallation in VSCode. Popular developer themes like Dracula, One Dark Pro, Tokyo Night, and Catppuccin are available on the VSCode marketplace and install identically in both editors.

Identifying Cursor-Specific Settings to Remove

Before importing into VSCode, identify settings that are Cursor-only. Common Cursor-specific keys include:

Strip these before pasting into VSCode’s settings.json — VSCode will ignore unknown keys, but keeping the config clean avoids confusion.

Setting Up VSCode with Copilot

Now that you have your Cursor settings backed up, configure VSCode and install GitHub Copilot.

Installing GitHub Copilot

Open VSCode and install the Copilot extension:

  1. Open the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X on macOS, Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows)

  2. Search for “GitHub Copilot”

  3. Install both “GitHub Copilot” and “GitHub Copilot Chat” extensions

  4. Restart VSCode when prompted

  5. Authenticate with your GitHub account when asked

After installation, Copilot becomes active and starts providing suggestions as you type, similar to Cursor’s AI functionality. A Copilot icon appears in the status bar; clicking it opens quick settings and shows your current authentication status.

Transferring Your Theme

If you used a built-in theme in Cursor, it is likely available in VSCode as well. Custom themes require reinstallation.

For built-in themes:

  1. Go to Code > Preferences > Theme > Color Theme (macOS) or File > Preferences > Theme > Color Theme (Windows)

  2. Search for your theme name

  3. Select it to apply

For custom themes from the marketplace:

  1. Open Extensions view

  2. Search for your theme by name (e.g., “One Dark Pro”, “Tokyo Night”, “Dracula”)

  3. Install and activate

If your theme is not on the marketplace, you can manually add the theme file. Place your .tmTheme or .json theme file inside a folder under ~/.vscode/extensions/, then reference it in settings:

// Add to settings.json after placing theme file in extensions:
{
  "workbench.colorTheme": "Your Theme Name"
}

Migrating Editor Settings

Your Cursor editor settings transfer directly to VSCode with minimal changes. Both editors use the same settings format.

Copying Essential Settings

Open both settings.json files and compare them. Most settings work identically, but some Cursor-specific settings require replacement:

{
  // Font and typography - transfer directly
  "editor.fontFamily": "JetBrains Mono",
  "editor.fontSize": 14,
  "editor.lineHeight": 1.6,
  "editor.letterSpacing": 0.5,

  // UI settings - most transfer directly
  "window.zoomLevel": 0,
  "workbench.iconTheme": "material-icon-theme",

  // Tab management - transfer directly
  "editor.tabSize": 2,
  "editor.insertSpaces": true,
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,

  // Remove Cursor-specific settings that don't apply
  // "cursor.aiEnabled": true,  <- Not needed in VSCode
  // "cursor.ruleBasedCompletion": true  <- Not needed
}

Configuring Copilot Behavior

VSCode with Copilot has its own settings for AI assistance. Add these to customize Copilot:

{
  // Copilot settings
  "github.copilot.enable": {
    "*": true,
    "yaml": true,
    "json": true,
    "markdown": false
  },

  // Accept suggestions with tab
  "editor.inlineSuggest.suppressSuggestions": false,

  // Show Copilot status in status bar
  "github.copilot.showWelcomeView": "onboarding",

  // Enable Copilot Chat
  "github.copilot.chat.enable": true
}

One key behavioral difference: Cursor’s AI panel is always visible in the sidebar, while Copilot Chat opens as a separate panel that you invoke explicitly. Set "chat.editor.wordWrap": "on" to improve readability of long Copilot responses.

Recreating Your Layout

Cursor allows extensive customization of the editor layout. Recreate your preferred arrangement in VSCode.

Panel Configuration

Transfer your panel settings:

{
  // Terminal settings
  "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 13,
  "terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "JetBrains Mono",
  "terminal.integrated.cursorBlinking": true,

  // Panel positions
  "panel.defaultLocation": "bottom",
  "sidepanel.visible": true,

  // Editor groups
  "workbench.editor.closeOnFileDelete": true,
  "workbench.editor.highlightModifiedTabs": true
}

Configure your navigation panel:

{
  // Activity bar
  "workbench.activityBar.visible": true,
  "workbench.activityBar.location": "default",

  // Explorer settings
  "explorer.confirmDelete": false,
  "explorer.confirmDragAndDrop": false,

  // Breadcrumbs
  "breadcrumbs.enabled": true,
  "breadcrumbs.filePath": "on"
}

Split Editor and Workbench Layout

Recreate split editor layouts using View: Split Editor Right or View: Split Editor Down from the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P). Save a workspace file (.code-workspace) to persist your preferred arrangement across restarts.

Transferring Keyboard Shortcuts

Many keyboard shortcuts work identically since both editors share the same base. However, some Cursor-specific shortcuts require recreation.

Exporting Cursor Keybindings

Your Cursor keybindings are stored in keybindings.json. Review this file and add any custom shortcuts to VSCode. Most shortcuts that use cmd, ctrl, shift, and alt modifiers transfer without change:

// In VSCode keybindings.json
[
  {
    "key": "cmd+shift+a",
    "command": "editor.action.selectAll",
    "when": "editorTextFocus"
  },
  {
    "key": "cmd+k cmd+s",
    "command": "workbench.action.openGlobalKeybindings"
  }
]

Copilot-Specific Shortcuts

Copilot adds its own keyboard shortcuts. You can customize these to match your former Cursor muscle memory:

[
  {
    "key": "cmd+shift+i",
    "command": "github.copilot.generate",
    "when": "editorTextFocus"
  },
  {
    "key": "cmd+i",
    "command": "workbench.action.chat.open"
  },
  {
    "key": "tab",
    "command": "editor.action.inlineSuggest.commit",
    "when": "inlineSuggestionHasIndentationLessThanTabSize && inlineSuggestionVisible && !editorTabMovesFocus"
  }
]

Cursor uses Cmd+K for inline edits and Cmd+L for chat. In VSCode, inline chat is Cmd+I and the Copilot Chat sidebar is opened from the activity bar. Remapping these shortcuts helps rebuild familiarity quickly.

Migrating Extensions

Most extensions that work in Cursor also work in VSCode since they share the same marketplace. From your ~/cursor-migration/extensions-list.txt file, install your daily-use extensions in bulk:

code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
code --install-extension ms-python.python
code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens

Common categories that transfer include formatters (Prettier, ESLint), language support (Python, Go, Rust Analyzer), Git tools (GitLens, Git Graph), and icon themes (Material Icon Theme).

Using Copilot Effectively

Once your environment is set up, Copilot provides AI assistance similar to Cursor but through a different interface.

Inline Suggestions

Copilot provides inline code completions as you type. Press Tab to accept suggestions or Escape to dismiss them. Use Alt+] and Alt+[ to cycle through alternative suggestions when the first completion is not quite right.

Copilot Chat

Access Copilot Chat through the chat icon in the sidebar or use the keyboard shortcut. The chat interface supports:

Using Copilot Edits (Multi-File Mode)

VSCode’s Copilot Edits feature, introduced in late 2024, allows Copilot to propose changes across multiple files simultaneously — analogous to Cursor’s Composer mode. Open it with Cmd+Shift+I (or through the Copilot Chat dropdown). Add files to the working set and describe what you want changed across your codebase.

Example: Using Copilot for Code Generation

// In Copilot Chat, ask:
"Write a function that fetches user data from an API and handles errors appropriately"

Copilot generates complete, context-aware code that follows best practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to transfer cursor editor theme and layout?

For a straightforward setup, expect 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on your familiarity with the tools involved. Complex configurations with custom requirements may take longer. Having your credentials and environment ready before starting saves significant time.

What are the most common mistakes to avoid?

The most frequent issues are skipping prerequisite steps, using outdated package versions, and not reading error messages carefully. Follow the steps in order, verify each one works before moving on, and check the official documentation if something behaves unexpectedly.

Do I need prior experience to follow this guide?

Basic familiarity with the relevant tools and command line is helpful but not strictly required. Each step is explained with context. If you get stuck, the official documentation for each tool covers fundamentals that may fill in knowledge gaps.

Can I adapt this for a different tech stack?

Yes, the underlying concepts transfer to other stacks, though the specific implementation details will differ. Look for equivalent libraries and patterns in your target stack. The architecture and workflow design remain similar even when the syntax changes.

Where can I get help if I run into issues?

Start with the official documentation for each tool mentioned. Stack Overflow and GitHub Issues are good next steps for specific error messages. Community forums and Discord servers for the relevant tools often have active members who can help with setup problems.