Switching Between Cursor and Windsurf (or from VS Code)
Both are VS Code forks. Settings, extensions, themes transfer. Some things don't.
Updated 17 April 2026
# VS Code to Cursor
| What you bring | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| settings.json | transfers | Auto-imported on first launch |
| Extensions | transfers | Re-install via marketplace on first launch |
| Keybindings (keybindings.json) | transfers | Auto-imported; Cursor adds Cmd+K/Ctrl+K for AI |
| Snippets | transfers | Manual copy to Cursor snippets folder |
| Themes | transfers | Re-install from marketplace |
| Git credentials | transfers | Shares system git config |
| Workspace .vscode/ folders | transfers | Cursor reads .vscode/settings.json |
| Remote SSH connections | transfers | Re-authenticate once |
| Devcontainer configs | transfers | Full support |
# VS Code to Windsurf
Same process as VS Code to Cursor. The VS Code base means the transition is identical in most respects.
- +settings.json, extensions, keybindings: all auto-import on first launch
- +Windsurf adds Cascade panel and Supercomplete as new UI elements
- +Previous VS Code Copilot or other AI extensions: disable to avoid conflicts
- +Theme and font preferences: transfer
- +Remote SSH: re-authenticate once
# Cursor to Windsurf (or Back)
| Item | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Settings and extensions | transfers | Both forks of VS Code - manual re-setup |
| Cursor Tab completions style | partial | Windsurf Tab (Supercomplete) feels different - brief adjustment period |
| Cursor's Cmd+K inline edit | loses | Windsurf uses Cascade panel instead, different UX |
| Composer 2 session history | loses | AI session history does not transfer between tools |
| Cursor keybindings | partial | Windsurf has its own Cascade shortcut set |
| .cursorrules | loses | Windsurf uses windsurf_rules or similar config file |
| BYOK API keys | loses | Re-enter in Windsurf settings if BYOK is supported |
# Running Both Side by Side
You can install Cursor and Windsurf simultaneously. They share the same extension marketplace but maintain separate settings files.
- + Both can be installed and open at the same time
- + Assign different default apps per project folder in your terminal
- + Open the same repo in both to compare AI responses side by side
- ! Settings sync (if using a cloud settings sync extension) may conflict - disable during evaluation
- ! Both may index your codebase in the background - slightly higher CPU/memory during evaluation period
# The Two-Week Evaluation Plan
Week 1
Cursor
Daily driver. Use Composer 2 for at least 3 multi-file tasks. Try BYOK with your API key. Use @codebase on a complex refactor.
Week 1
Windsurf
Parallel evaluation. Use Cascade (not Composer) for the same tasks. Enable Plan Mode for one complex task. Let it run autonomous on a bugfix.
Week 2
Decision week
Pick the tool that felt better for your specific workflow. Try enterprise SSO if relevant. Compare cost with the calculator.
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