SOP-003: First-Time Configuration

Document Control

Field	Value
SOP ID	SOP-003
Version	1.0
Status	Active
Last Updated	2024-12

Purpose

This SOP guides new Cursor users through essential first-time configuration to optimize their AI-assisted development experience.

Scope

• Cursor Settings configuration
• AI model selection
• Privacy settings
• Initial rules setup

Prerequisites

• Cursor installed and launched (SOP-001)
• Signed in with account

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Procedure

Configuration Overview

Step	Action
1. Account	Sign in & verify plan
2. AI Models	Select default model
3. Privacy	Configure data settings
4. Rules	Set up initial rules

Step 1: Open Cursor Settings

Keyboard Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+J / Ctrl+Shift+J

Or:

1. Click the gear icon in the bottom-left
2. Select "Cursor Settings"

Two Settings Panels

• Cursor Settings (Cmd+Shift+J): AI-specific settings
• VS Code Settings (Cmd+,): Editor settings

Step 2: Verify Account & Plan

In Cursor Settings > Account:

1. Confirm you're signed in
2. Check your plan status (Free, Pro, etc.)
3. View usage if on a metered plan

Free	Pro	Enterprise
Limited requests	Unlimited requests	All Pro features
Basic models	All models	SSO/SCIM
Tab completion	Priority access	Team rules
	Max mode context	Audit logs

Step 3: Configure AI Model

Navigate to Cursor Settings > Models

Select Default Model:

Model	Best For	Context
Claude 4.5 Sonnet	General coding (Recommended)	200k (1M max)
Claude 4.5 Opus	Complex reasoning	200k
GPT-5.2	Alternative preference	272k
Gemini 3 Pro	Long context needs	200k (1M max)

Quick Model Switch: Press Cmd+/ / Ctrl+/ to cycle models in chat

Step 4: Configure Privacy Settings

Navigate to Cursor Settings > Privacy

Key Settings:

Setting	Description	Recommendation
Privacy Mode	Don't store prompts on server	Enable for sensitive code
Telemetry	Usage analytics	Your preference
Codebase Indexing	Enable semantic search	✅ Enable

Sensitive Code

For proprietary or sensitive codebases, enable Privacy Mode to ensure prompts aren't stored.

Step 5: Configure Tab Autocomplete

Navigate to Cursor Settings > Tab

Recommended Settings:

Setting	Recommended	Why
Cursor Tab	✅ Enabled	Core AI feature
Partial Accepts	✅ Enabled	Accept word-by-word
Suggestions While Commenting	Preference	Can be distracting
Auto Import (TypeScript)	✅ Enabled	Saves time
Auto Import (Python)	✅ Enabled	Saves time

Step 6: Configure Agent Settings

Navigate to Cursor Settings > Agents

Auto-Run Settings:

Setting	Options	Recommendation
Auto-Run Mode	Sandbox / Ask / Run Everything	Sandbox (macOS) or Ask
Network Access	Allow in sandbox	Enable if needed
Git Writes	Allow without approval	Disable initially

Mode	Description
Run in Sandbox (macOS)	Commands auto-run in restricted environment
Ask Every Time (Win/Linux)	Approve each command before execution
Run Everything (Power Users)	Full trust - commands run without approval

Step 7: Set Up User Rules (Optional)

Navigate to Cursor Settings > Rules

Add global preferences that apply to all projects:

Please reply concisely. Prefer functional programming patterns.
Use TypeScript for all new files. Follow existing code style.

Project-Specific Rules

For project-specific rules, create .cursor/rules in your project. See SOP-010: Project Rules.

Step 8: Configure Network (If Issues)

Navigate to Cursor Settings > Network

1. Click Run Diagnostics to test connectivity
2. If behind corporate proxy:
   • Enable HTTP/1.1 fallback in VS Code settings (Cmd+,)
   • Search "HTTP/2" and enable "Disable HTTP/2"

Step 9: Install Shell Commands (CLI)

For terminal access:

1. Open Command Palette: Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P
2. Type: "Shell Command: Install 'cursor' command in PATH"
3. Now you can open folders with: cursor .

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Recommended Extensions

Enhance Cursor with these popular extensions:

Extension	Purpose
Prettier	Code formatting
ESLint	JavaScript linting
GitLens	Git insights
Error Lens	Inline error display
Material Icon Theme	File icons

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Verification Checklist

• [ ] Signed in and plan verified
• [ ] Default AI model selected
• [ ] Privacy settings configured appropriately
• [ ] Tab autocomplete tested (type code, see suggestions)
• [ ] Agent chat opens with Cmd+I / Ctrl+I
• [ ] Inline edit works with Cmd+K / Ctrl+K
• [ ] Network diagnostics pass
• [ ] Shell commands installed (optional)

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
AI not responding	Run network diagnostics
Wrong model in chat	Use Cmd+/ to switch models
Tab not suggesting	Check Tab settings are enabled
Slow performance	Disable unused extensions
Settings not saving	Check write permissions

See Also

• SOP-001: Installation & Setup
• SOP-010: Project Rules
• SOP-009: Codebase Indexing
• Keyboard Shortcuts