How to open existing project folder on Cursor

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Opening an existing project in Cursor can be done through the File menu by selecting 'Open Folder' or by dragging and dropping the folder directly into the Cursor window. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K Ctrl+O (Cmd+K Cmd+O on Mac) for quick access.

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Prerequisites

Cursor IDE installed on your system
Existing project folder on your computer
Basic familiarity with file navigation

Step-by-Step Instructions

Launch Cursor IDE

Open Cursor from your applications menu, desktop shortcut, or by searching for Cursor in your system's application launcher. Wait for the application to fully load.

If Cursor is already open with another project, you can open multiple projects in separate windows.

Access the File Menu

Click on File in the top menu bar. From the dropdown menu, select Open Folder. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K Ctrl+O on Windows/Linux or Cmd+K Cmd+O on Mac.

The 'Open Folder' option is different from 'Open File' - make sure to select the folder option for projects.

Navigate to Your Project Folder

In the file browser dialog that opens, navigate to the location where your existing project folder is stored. This could be in your Documents, Desktop, or any other directory on your system.

Use the breadcrumb navigation at the top of the dialog to quickly jump between parent directories.

Select the Project Folder

Click once on your project folder to select it. The folder name should become highlighted. Make sure you're selecting the root folder of your project, not individual files within it.

Look for common project indicators like package.json, README.md, or .git folders to confirm you're in the right directory.

Open the Selected Folder

Click the Open or Select Folder button in the bottom right corner of the dialog. Cursor will now load your project and display the folder structure in the Explorer panel on the left side.

Large projects may take a few seconds to fully index and load all files.

Verify Project Loading

Check that your project files appear in the Explorer sidebar on the left. You should see your project's folder structure, and you can expand folders by clicking the arrow icons next to them.

If some files don't appear, check if they're hidden by your system or excluded by Cursor's file filters.

Alternative: Drag and Drop Method

You can also open a project by dragging the project folder from your file manager (Windows Explorer, Finder, etc.) directly onto the Cursor window. This will automatically open the folder as a project.

This method is faster for frequently accessed projects and works even when Cursor already has another project open.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Project folder doesn't appear in the file dialog

Check if the folder is in a restricted location or if you have proper permissions. Try navigating to the folder manually using your system's file manager first, then note the exact path to navigate to it in Cursor.

Cursor shows 'Permission denied' error when opening folder

Ensure you have read permissions for the project folder. On Mac/Linux, you may need to run chmod -R 755 /path/to/project or change ownership with chown. On Windows, check the folder's security properties.

Project opens but files are missing from Explorer

Check Cursor's file exclusion settings in Settings > Files: Exclude. Some files might be hidden due to .gitignore rules or Cursor's default exclusions. You can also try refreshing the Explorer with Ctrl+Shift+P and searching for 'Reload Window'.

Drag and drop doesn't work

Ensure you're dragging the folder (not individual files) onto the main Cursor window area, not the title bar. If it still doesn't work, try using the File > Open Folder method instead, or restart Cursor and try again.

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