# Cursor.exe

Application Process: Anysphere, Inc.

Also called cursor, anysphere cursor

Anysphere, Inc., Application

Cursor editor from Anysphere. It is a VS Code fork. Extra Cursor.exe rows are Electron helpers. It is not Code.exe (Microsoft Visual Studio Code).

## What you need to know

Cursor.exe is Anysphere Cursor, not Microsoft VS Code.

Cursor.exe is the Anysphere Cursor editor. It forks VS Code, so the window can look familiar. Code.exe is Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Ending Code.exe does not close Cursor.

- **Safe?**: Yes, from Anysphere Cursor

  **Is it VS Code?**: No. Code.exe is Microsoft VS Code

  **High CPU?**: File watcher or an extension

Feex says

If Cursor.exe is busy on a huge repo, I check watchers and extensions inside Cursor. I do not uninstall VS Code to quiet this process.

## What is Cursor.exe?

Cursor.exe is Anysphere Cursor, not Microsoft VS Code. The image is a VS Code fork. Code.exe remains the Microsoft editor.

## What does it do?

The main process owns the window. Extra Cursor.exe rows are GPU, renderer, and extension host. A language server can still be a different exe.

## Why is it running?

You opened a Cursor window or restored a workspace. A Cursor.exe from a random tools zip is only Cursor if it is signed Anysphere.

## Why are there multiple copies?

Main, GPU, renderer, and extension host can share the Cursor.exe name. That is Electron, not a second Microsoft Code.exe.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

An Anysphere-signed Cursor.exe under AppData\Local\Programs\cursor is the editor. Cursor.exe in Downloads can be a rename. This is still not Code.exe.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Programs\cursor\Cursor.exe`

- User install is the common path
- Publisher should be Anysphere
- Not Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe

## Can I end it?

Closes the Cursor window

Ending the main Cursor.exe closes that editor. Unsaved buffers live in Cursor backup, not in VS Code. Code.exe can stay open.

## Can I remove it?

Uninstall Cursor

Use Settings > Apps or the Cursor uninstaller. Deleting Cursor.exe leaves user data. Uninstalling VS Code does not remove Cursor.

## Should it start with Windows?

Cursor can reopen folders if Windows restored the window. That is session restore, not a VS Code service.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: File watchers and language services

  **Memory**: Extensions and Electron helpers

  **Disk**: Search and git status on large trees

  **Network**: Editor features that call Anysphere services

## File information

| Executable name        | Cursor.exe                                                |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Users\\\<you>\AppData\Local\Programs\cursor\Cursor.exe |
| Publisher              | Anysphere, Inc.                                           |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Anysphere, Inc.                                 |

## Common problems

### People close Code.exe to stop Cursor

Two products. Open file location. Programs\cursor is this article. Microsoft VS Code is Code.exe.

### Watcher load on node_modules

Exclude huge trees in Cursor settings. That advice is for this editor. VS Code files.watcherExclude does not configure Cursor.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### Disable extensions inside Cursor as a test

Use Cursor's extension list, not the VS Code one. If CPU falls, the Cursor extension is the article.

### Open file location on Cursor.exe versus Code.exe

Anysphere under Programs\cursor is this process. Microsoft VS Code is a different install.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | Cursor.exe                    |
| ---------- | ----------------------------- |
| Product    | Cursor (Anysphere)            |
| Not        | Code.exe (Visual Studio Code) |

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[Code.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/code.exe)[Visual Studio Code: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/visual-studio-code)[When high CPU is normal: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/when-high-cpu-is-normal)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Cursor docs ](https://docs.cursor.com/)· Anysphere Cursor editor
- [Cursor ](https://cursor.com/)· Vendor product
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

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Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Type**: Application Process

  **Publisher**: Anysphere, Inc.

  **Executable**: Cursor.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Users\\\<you>\AppData\Local\Programs\cursor\Cursor.exe

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

  **Related process**: [Code.exe](https://feex.it/wiki/process/code.exe)

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/process/cursor.exe/)

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