Complete guide to keeping your code private when using Cursor. Learn when to use Privacy Mode, how to configure it, and what data Cursor collects.
Built something with Cursor? Check for common AI-generated code vulnerabilities.
By default, Cursor sends your code to external AI servers (Anthropic, OpenAI) for processing. Privacy Mode prevents this entirely, but disables most AI features. For sensitive projects, enable Privacy Mode. For others, use .cursorignore to exclude specific files from AI context.
Code context is sent to AI providers (Anthropic, OpenAI) for processing
Your code → Cursor servers → AI providers → ResponseCode stays on your machine, no context sent to external servers
Your code → Local processing onlyPress Cmd+, (Mac) or Ctrl+, (Windows/Linux) to open settings, or go to Cursor → Settings
Navigate to the Privacy section in the settings panel
Find the 'Privacy Mode' toggle and enable it
This immediately stops sending code context to external servers
In your project root, create a .cursorignore file
This file works like .gitignore but for Cursor's AI context
Add patterns for files that should never be in AI context
Include .env files, credentials, and proprietary code
Test by checking if excluded files appear in AI suggestions
Files in .cursorignore should not influence AI responses
Even without Privacy Mode, you can exclude sensitive files from AI context using .cursorignore. Create this file in your project root and add patterns for files that should never be sent to AI servers.
Red patterns are critical security files that should always be excluded.
PHI (Protected Health Information) cannot be sent to third parties
Enable Privacy Mode for any project handling health data
Fines up to $1.5M per violation category
Customer data must be protected according to service commitments
Use Privacy Mode or verify Cursor's SOC 2 certification covers your use case
Audit failures, customer trust issues
Code cannot be shared with third parties
Enable Privacy Mode and use .cursorignore for all client code
Contract breach, legal liability
Strict data handling requirements, often air-gapped
Privacy Mode minimum; consider if Cursor is appropriate at all
Clearance revocation, legal consequences
Privacy Mode protects your code from external servers, but what about the code you've already built? Scan your Cursor-built app for common security vulnerabilities.
Scan Your App FreePrivacy Mode disables all features that require sending code to external servers. This includes: AI-powered code completion, Cursor Chat with code context, AI-powered refactoring suggestions, and codebase-aware AI features. Basic editing features continue to work normally.
Yes! You can toggle Privacy Mode per workspace. Keep it enabled for sensitive projects and disabled for others. Some developers maintain separate Cursor profiles for different security levels.
.cursorignore prevents specific files from being included in AI context, but other code still gets sent to external servers. For truly sensitive projects, use both .cursorignore (for defense in depth) AND Privacy Mode (to prevent any code transmission).
According to Cursor's privacy policy, code sent for AI processing is not permanently stored on their servers. However, it is processed by third-party AI providers (Anthropic, OpenAI) who have their own data handling policies. For maximum privacy, enable Privacy Mode.
Cursor has limited support for local models. You can configure local model endpoints, but capabilities are significantly reduced compared to cloud models. For maximum privacy with AI features, consider tools specifically designed for local AI development.
When Privacy Mode is enabled, you should see a privacy indicator in Cursor's status bar. AI features that require external processing will show errors or be unavailable. You can also monitor network traffic to verify no code is being transmitted.