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If Cursor isn’t following a rule, check three things first: whether the rule’s activation type matches your request, whether it is stored in a location the current Cursor surface reads, and whether the feature you’re using supports rules. A rule file’s presence in a repository does not make it active for every request.
1. The rule’s activation type or trigger does not match
Cursor project rules are Markdown files with an .mdc extension, stored in .cursor/rules. Their activation settings determine when they enter the AI’s context:
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| Rule type | When it applies | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Always | Included in the model context. | Confirm the rule is set to Always if it should apply across requests. |
| Auto Attached | Included when referenced files match the configured glob pattern. | Compare the pattern with the actual path of the file involved in the request. |
| Agent Requested | Available for the agent to select when relevant. | Give the rule a clear description so the agent can determine when it applies. |
| Manual | Included only when explicitly invoked. | Mention the rule by name, or use @Cursor Rules in chat to apply project rules. |
Cursor’s Rules documentation FAQ recommends checking the rule type, adding a description for Agent Requested rules, and verifying the file pattern for Auto Attached rules.
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Check the rule in settings or its metadata
Open Cursor Settings > Rules or inspect the rule’s .mdc frontmatter. Confirm that the activation type suits the behavior you expect. For an auto-attached rule, check both the configured glob and the file path involved in the task. For an agent-requested rule, make its purpose explicit in the description; for a manual rule, invoke it rather than expecting it to attach automatically.
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2. The rule is stored in a different scope or location
Cursor supports several instruction sources, but they do not all have the same scope or configuration:
| Instruction source | Scope and details |
|---|---|
| Project rule | A .mdc file in .cursor/rules; it can have activation settings and file scoping. Nested .cursor/rules directories are documented for subfolders. |
| User Rule | Global plain-text instructions configured in Cursor Settings > Rules. |
AGENTS.md |
A simple root-level alternative without the metadata and per-rule scoping of project rules. The documentation describes nested support as planned for v1.6, so that detail depends on the version. |
.cursorrules |
A legacy root-level file that Cursor’s documentation says remains supported, but is deprecated in favor of Project Rules. |
When the IDE and CLI behave differently, verify the workspace root and which instruction files that surface loads. Cursor says its CLI agent supports the same rules system as the IDE and reads root-level AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md alongside .cursor/rules.
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Verify the project and file location
- Make sure Cursor has the intended project open.
- Check that a project rule is inside that project’s root-level or appropriate nested
.cursor/rulesdirectory. - Identify whether the instruction is a global User Rule, a project
.mdcrule, root-levelAGENTS.md, or legacy.cursorrules. - For CLI use, confirm the workspace root and the instruction filenames it reads.
Do not assume these sources have identical scope, metadata, or activation behavior. See Cursor’s documentation on project rules and instruction files for the current details.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.3. The feature you’re testing does not use rules
Cursor’s rules documentation says rules apply to Chat and Inline Edit, but do not affect Cursor Tab or other AI features. A correctly configured rule can therefore have no effect if you test it in a feature outside that documented scope.
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Test the instruction in a supported surface
- Reproduce the request in Chat or Inline Edit.
- In Chat, use
@Cursor Rulesif you need to explicitly apply project rules. - Check the active-rule display in the Agent sidebar to see whether the rule reached the current context.
If you are using Cursor Tab or another AI feature, the rules documentation does not establish that those features consume rules.
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A practical troubleshooting sequence
- Name the feature. Note whether the behavior occurs in Chat, Inline Edit, Cursor Tab, or the CLI.
- Locate the instruction. Identify the project
.cursor/rules/*.mdcfile, User Rule, root-levelAGENTS.md, or legacy.cursorrules. - Check activation. Match the rule type to the task: test the glob against the file path for Auto Attached, add a useful description for Agent Requested, and invoke Manual rules explicitly.
- Verify context. In Chat, use
@Cursor Ruleswhen needed and inspect the active-rule list in the Agent sidebar. - Review the wording. Keep the instruction focused, specific, and actionable. Cursor recommends splitting large concepts into composable rules and keeping each rule under 500 lines; this is product guidance, not a performance benchmark. See its Rules documentation.
- Gather details if the checks do not explain it. Record the Cursor version, rule file and frontmatter, target file path, feature used, and a reproducible prompt. The documentation does not establish a universal repair or a specific current defect.
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