After years of using JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ, WebStorm, and PyCharm, I recently made the switch to Cursor for its AI-assisted coding capabilities. While Cursor’s migration guide covers the basics, it doesn’t dive deep into customization beyond adding the IntelliJ IDEA Keybindings plugin.

Since Cursor is built on VSCode, the customization options are extensive. Here are the key settings that made my transition smooth and comfortable.

Editor Settings

Adjusting Font Size

The default font size felt too small for my workflow. Here’s how to fix it:

  1. Press Cmd ⌘ + , to open settings
  2. Search for Editor: Font Size
  3. Set the value to 12 (or your preferred size)

This simple change significantly improves readability during long coding sessions.

File Explorer Customization

Optimizing Indent Size

The file tree’s indentation affects how easily you can navigate nested folders. I found the default too cramped for complex project structures.

Setting: workbench.tree.indent
Recommended value: 8

Cursor indent settings configuration

With this adjustment, the file explorer becomes much more readable.

Improving Overall Scale

If the entire interface feels small, adjust the zoom level rather than individual components:

Setting: window.zoomLevel
Recommended value: 1

Cursor zoom level setting

This creates a more comfortable viewing experience without making the interface feel cramped.

Final Thoughts

These simple adjustments transformed my Cursor experience from tolerable to enjoyable. The key is finding the right balance between information density and readability for your specific workflow.