Basics
Cursor Themes and Appearance: Dark Mode, Fonts, Ligatures
Open the command palette with ⌘⇧P on Mac or Ctrl⇧P on Windows and Linux, run Preferences: Color Theme, and pick a theme. Default Light Modern and Default Dark Modern are the built-in pair, Cursor Dark is Cursor's own. Font size, font family and ligatures live in Settings.
On this page
Why can't I find the theme settings?
Start here if the steps below do not match what you see. Theme controls and the Extensions view are part of the IDE, not the Agents WindowCursor's surface listing your agent runs; open a run to read its diff and search transcripts from the command palette. Press Enter for the full definition.. If you are in the Agents Window, open the command palette and run Open IDE, then continue.
This is the usual reason a keyboard shortcut for Extensions or Color Theme appears to do nothing. Switch to the IDE first.
This is covered hands-on in Cursor First Hour — 4 short modules, free to read.
How do I switch Cursor to light mode or dark mode?
Three steps through the command palette. The theme names matter: pick Default Light Modern or any theme with "Light" in the name for light mode, and Default Dark Modern or Cursor Dark for dark.
- 1Open the command palette: Cmd + Shift + P on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows and Linux.
- 2Type
Preferences: Color Themeand select that command. - 3Pick a light or dark theme from the list.
If you would rather Cursor follow the machine instead, open Settings with Cmd + , on Mac or Ctrl + , on Windows and Linux, search for "Auto Detect Color Scheme" and enable it. Cursor then follows your OS appearance.
How do I install more Cursor themes?
Themes are extensions, so they come from the Extensions view rather than a theme store. The shortcut is Cmd + Shift + X on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + X on Windows and Linux; search for theme and click Install on one.
If the Extensions view does not open, that is the Agents WindowCursor's surface listing your agent runs; open a run to read its diff and search transcripts from the command palette. Press Enter for the full definition. issue again: run Open IDE, then try the shortcut again.
In the Color Theme list, use the arrow keys to preview each theme in place before selecting it. Faster than installing, applying and undoing.
How do I change the font in Cursor?
Font settings are all in Settings rather than the command palette, and they are split so you can size the editor and the terminal independently. The table below is the search term for each one.
- What you want
- Editor or terminal font size
- Search Settings for
- Font Size
- Value
- Adjust editor, terminal, or both
- What you want
- A different typeface
- Search Settings for
- Font Family
- Value
- The name of any font installed on your system, e.g.
JetBrains Mono,Fira Code
- What you want
- Ligatures
- Search Settings for
- Font Ligatures
- Value
- Set to
true
| What you want | Search Settings for | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Editor or terminal font size | Font Size | Adjust editor, terminal, or both |
| A different typeface | Font Family | The name of any font installed on your system, e.g. JetBrains Mono, Fira Code |
| Ligatures | Font Ligatures | Set to true |
Settings opens with Cmd + , on Mac, Ctrl + , on Windows and Linux.
The font family field takes any font installed on your system, not a curated list, so a font you already use in another editor will work as long as it is installed. Cursor keeps the rest of its shortcuts in the keyboard shortcuts help page rather than in this one.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put Cursor in dark mode?
Open the command palette with ⌘⇧P on Mac or Ctrl⇧P on Windows and Linux, run Preferences: Color Theme, and select Default Dark Modern or Cursor Dark.
Can Cursor follow my system light or dark setting?
Yes. Open Settings with Cmd+, on Mac or Ctrl+, on Windows and Linux, search for "Auto Detect Color Scheme" and enable it.
How do I enable font ligatures in Cursor?
Open Settings, search for "Font Ligatures" and set it to true. The typeface itself is set under "Font Family", which accepts any font installed on your system.
Why don't the theme shortcuts work for me?
Theme controls and the Extensions view belong to the IDE, not the Agents Window. Open the command palette, run Open IDE, then use the shortcut again.
Sources & last verified
Cursor ships frequently. Facts verified against primary sources on July 27, 2026.
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