# Agent troubleshooting

Fixes for common Agent issues with file access, rules, terminal commands, and more.

## How can I improve Agent accuracy?

- Be specific in your prompts: include expected behavior and constraints
- Use [Plan mode](https://cursor.com/help/ai-features/plan-mode.md) first for tasks that touch many files
- Start a new chat when you finish a feature or switch tasks
- Add [rules](https://cursor.com/help/customization/rules.md) in `.cursor/rules/` for patterns you want Agent to follow every time
- Type `@` followed by a file or folder name to give Agent targeted context

## What if Agent doesn't pick up my files?

1. Check your `.cursorignore` file in the project root. Files listed there are blocked from Agent, semantic search, and `@` mentions.
2. Check `.gitignore`. Patterns there can also prevent Agent from discovering files.
3. Reindex your project: open the command palette and search for "Reindex."
4. Attach files directly by typing `@` followed by the filename in the chat input.

## How do I undo Agent changes?

Hover over a previous message and click **Restore Checkpoint** in the bottom right to roll back all changes Agent made after that point.

Checkpoints are stored locally and are separate from git. Use git for permanent version control.

## What if Agent sets CI=1 in terminal commands?

Cursor sets `CI=1` as an environment variable when running terminal commands through Agent. This helps terminal tools produce cleaner output. If your project behaves differently when `CI=1` is set (for example, skipping interactive prompts or using CI-specific paths), you can unset it in your commands:

```bash
unset CI && your-command-here
```

Or add this to a rule so Agent always unsets it:

```md
When running terminal commands, prefix with `unset CI &&` if the command's behavior changes in CI environments.
```

## How do I report a bad Agent response?

1. Click the **...** menu at the bottom of the response and select **Copy Request ID**.
2. Post to [forum.cursor.com](https://forum.cursor.com/) with the request ID, steps to reproduce, and your system info (found in **Cursor > About Cursor** on macOS or **Help > About** on Windows/Linux).

## Related

- [Agent reference](https://cursor.com/docs/agent/overview.md)
- [Plan Mode](https://cursor.com/docs/agent/plan-mode.md)
- [Rules](https://cursor.com/docs/rules.md)
- [Terminal sandbox](https://cursor.com/docs/agent/tools/terminal.md)
- [Network and proxy](https://cursor.com/help/troubleshooting/network.md)
- [MCP troubleshooting](https://cursor.com/help/customization/mcp.md#how-do-i-troubleshoot-mcp-servers)


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