From 35ee69527d2cd1cc85797aadfc906b7b1a5f0cec Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: utpal singh <utpalsingh915@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2026 07:29:06 +0530
Subject: [PATCH] fix: offer manual Inbox notes for Cursor

---
 apps/hook/server/inbox-command.ts             | 10 ++++-
 apps/hook/server/inbox-connect-cli.test.ts    | 10 +++--
 apps/hook/server/inbox-help.ts                |  3 +-
 .../src/content/docs/reference/inbox.md       |  5 ++-
 packages/core/inbox-types.ts                  |  6 +--
 packages/inbox/agentNoteDialog.test.tsx       |  2 +-
 packages/inbox/agents.ts                      |  5 ++-
 packages/inbox/agentsSettings.test.tsx        |  7 +++-
 packages/inbox/api.ts                         |  2 +-
 packages/inbox/components/AgentNoteDialog.tsx | 38 +++++++++++++------
 packages/inbox/components/AgentsSettings.tsx  | 16 ++++----
 packages/server/inbox-agent-notes.ts          | 13 ++++++-
 packages/server/inbox.ts                      | 13 ++++---
 tests/e2e/inbox-agents.spec.ts                | 29 +++++++++++++-
 14 files changed, 114 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)

diff --git a/apps/hook/server/inbox-command.ts b/apps/hook/server/inbox-command.ts
index 926f143276..46d7468eb7 100644
--- a/apps/hook/server/inbox-command.ts
+++ b/apps/hook/server/inbox-command.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import { handleInboxServerReady, startInboxServer } from "@plannotator/server/in
 import { exposureWarning, type InboxTailscaleState } from "@plannotator/server/inbox-tailscale";
 import { openBrowser } from "@plannotator/server/browser";
 import { agentSpec, createAgentEnvironment, formatConnectReport, inboxConnectDisabled } from "@plannotator/server/inbox-agents";
-import { addInboxNote, inboxNotesDisabled, markNotesAsked } from "@plannotator/server/inbox-agent-notes";
+import { addInboxNote, INBOX_NOTE_BODY, inboxNotesDisabled, markNotesAsked } from "@plannotator/server/inbox-agent-notes";
 import { INBOX_AGENT_LABELS, INBOX_AUTO_SEND_AFTER_MS, INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS, type InboxConnectReport, type InboxNoteAgentId } from "@plannotator/core/inbox-types";
 import { writeUrlQr } from "@plannotator/server/qr";
 import { getCliVersion } from "./cli";
@@ -314,6 +314,12 @@ async function writeNotes(dataDir: string, list: string): Promise<number> {
   const added: InboxNoteAgentId[] = [];
   for (const id of ids as InboxNoteAgentId[]) {
     const label = INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[id];
+    if (id === "cursor") {
+      process.stdout.write(`${INBOX_NOTE_BODY}\n\n`);
+      process.stderr.write("Cursor User Rules are managed in Cursor Settings → Rules. Copy the block above there; Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.\n");
+      added.push(id);
+      continue;
+    }
     // Never a file for an agent that is not on this computer.
     if (!agentSpec(id).detect(environment)) {
       ok = false;
@@ -342,7 +348,7 @@ async function writeNotes(dataDir: string, list: string): Promise<number> {
   }
   // The window never asks about an agent whose note is there now; the others are still asked, once each.
   await markNotesAsked(added, { dataDir, selfCommand: selfCommand(), environment });
-  if (ok) process.stderr.write("Each agent reads it from its next session. Remove it in the Inbox's Settings or with plannotator uninstall.\n");
+  if (ok && added.some((id) => id !== "cursor")) process.stderr.write("Managed notes are read from each agent's next session. Remove them in the Inbox's Settings or with plannotator uninstall.\n");
   return ok ? 0 : 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/hook/server/inbox-connect-cli.test.ts b/apps/hook/server/inbox-connect-cli.test.ts
index 9eb87f6587..a7cb6a3272 100644
--- a/apps/hook/server/inbox-connect-cli.test.ts
+++ b/apps/hook/server/inbox-connect-cli.test.ts
@@ -161,15 +161,19 @@ test("plannotator inbox --notes adds only the notes named, starts nothing, and a
   mkdirSync(join(w.home, ".codex"), { recursive: true });
   writeFileSync(join(w.home, ".codex", "AGENTS.md"), "Mine.\n");
   mkdirSync(join(w.home, ".gemini"), { recursive: true });
-  const result = await cli(w, ["inbox", "--notes", "codex,gemini"]);
+  const result = await cli(w, ["inbox", "--notes", "codex,gemini,cursor"]);
   expect(result.code).toBe(0);
-  expect(result.stdout).toBe("");
+  expect(result.stdout).toContain("## Plannotator Inbox");
+  expect(result.stdout).not.toContain("plannotator-inbox:start");
+  expect(result.stderr).toContain("Cursor User Rules are managed in Cursor Settings → Rules");
+  expect(result.stderr).toContain("Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.");
   expect(result.stderr).toContain("Codex: Added a marked section to ~/.codex/AGENTS.md.");
   expect(result.stderr).toContain("Gemini CLI: Created ~/.gemini/GEMINI.md.");
   expect(readFileSync(join(w.home, ".codex", "AGENTS.md"), "utf8")).toContain("<!-- plannotator-inbox:start v1");
   expect(existsSync(join(w.home, ".pi"))).toBe(false);
+  expect(existsSync(join(w.home, ".cursor"))).toBe(false);
   expect(existsSync(join(w.home, ".plannotator", "inbox", "inbox.json"))).toBe(false);
-  expect(JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(w.home, ".plannotator", "config.json"), "utf8")).inboxAgentNotes).toEqual({ offered: true, asked: ["codex", "gemini"] });
+  expect(JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(w.home, ".plannotator", "config.json"), "utf8")).inboxAgentNotes).toEqual({ offered: true, asked: ["codex", "gemini", "cursor"] });
 
   const bad = await cli(w, ["inbox", "--notes", "vscode"]);
   expect(bad.code).toBe(1);
diff --git a/apps/hook/server/inbox-help.ts b/apps/hook/server/inbox-help.ts
index 85d4f1df45..13e52bc431 100644
--- a/apps/hook/server/inbox-help.ts
+++ b/apps/hook/server/inbox-help.ts
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ export function formatInboxHelp(options: InboxHelpOptions): string {
   const noteLines = INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS.map((id) => {
     const target = noteTarget(id, agents);
     const shown = displayPath(target.path, agents);
+    if (id === "cursor") return `- ${INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[id]} (\`${id}\`): manual copy to Cursor Settings → Rules. \`plannotator inbox --notes cursor\` prints the note; Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.`;
     if (target.reason) return `- ${INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[id]} (\`${id}\`): none. ${target.reason}`;
     return `- ${INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[id]} (\`${id}\`): ${code(shown ?? "")}, ${target.create ? "creates the file" : "adds a marked section"}.`;
   });
@@ -386,7 +387,7 @@ export function formatInboxHelp(options: InboxHelpOptions): string {
     "",
     "## A note in each agent's instructions",
     "",
-    "Plannotator can add a short, marked note about the Inbox to an agent's own instructions file, so it sends decisions and finished work here while the person is away. Only with the person's yes: show them this list, then run `plannotator inbox --notes <ids>` with only the agents they agreed to (comma-separated). It never overwrites a note the person edited; the Inbox's Settings and `plannotator uninstall` remove it. On this computer:",
+    "Plannotator can add a short note about the Inbox to an agent's instructions, so it sends decisions and finished work here while the person is away. Only with the person's yes: show them this list, then run `plannotator inbox --notes <ids>` with only the agents they agreed to (comma-separated). Managed notes never overwrite a note the person edited and can be removed in Settings or with `plannotator uninstall`; Cursor instead requires manual copy/paste and Plannotator cannot track or remove it. On this computer:",
     "",
     ...noteLines,
     "",
diff --git a/apps/marketing/src/content/docs/reference/inbox.md b/apps/marketing/src/content/docs/reference/inbox.md
index 26360cc5eb..9ed2b89d01 100644
--- a/apps/marketing/src/content/docs/reference/inbox.md
+++ b/apps/marketing/src/content/docs/reference/inbox.md
@@ -75,12 +75,13 @@ The first time you open the Inbox after it connected your agents, a dialog asks
 | Gemini CLI | `~/.gemini/GEMINI.md` (or your `context.fileName`) |
 | Pi | the one instructions file Pi reads in `~/.pi/agent/` |
 | OpenCode | `~/.config/opencode/AGENTS.md`, only when you already have it: creating it would stop OpenCode 1 reading your `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` |
+| Cursor | Cursor User Rules in Settings → Rules (manual copy; no supported global rules file) |
 
-The note sits between two marker lines at the end of the file. Plannotator never overwrites a note you edited, and removing it removes only that section. `plannotator inbox --notes codex,gemini` adds it from the terminal (the agent install prompt runs this only after you say yes). `plannotator inbox --help` lists the exact files on your computer.
+Managed notes sit between two marker lines at the end of the file. Plannotator never overwrites a note you edited, and removing it removes only that section. `plannotator inbox --notes codex,gemini` adds managed notes from the terminal (the agent install prompt runs this only after you say yes). For Cursor, `plannotator inbox --notes cursor` prints the note to copy into Cursor Settings → Rules. Plannotator cannot detect whether it was pasted, update it or remove it; a copied Cursor rule is never shown as installed. `plannotator inbox --help` lists exact files and manual steps.
 
 ### Settings → Agents
 
-Settings lists each agent found on this computer with up to three switches: **Reaches the Inbox** (its MCP entry, or the inbox tool for Claude Code, Pi and OpenCode), **Reminder at session start** (Claude Code, Pi and OpenCode: one line at the start of each session that has the inbox tool) and **Note in its instructions**. A change applies to that agent's next session. An agent you turn off here is never connected again by `plannotator inbox`. Agents not found are folded under **Not found on this computer**, with the command or one-click link for each, editors included.
+Settings lists each agent found on this computer with up to three switches: **Reaches the Inbox** (its MCP entry, or the inbox tool for Claude Code, Pi and OpenCode), **Reminder at session start** (Claude Code, Pi and OpenCode: one line at the start of each session that has the inbox tool) and **Note in its instructions**. Cursor's note is a manual Show note workflow, not a managed switch; copy it into Settings → Rules. Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove that copy. Managed note changes apply to that agent's next session. An agent you turn off here is never connected again by `plannotator inbox`. Agents not found are folded under **Not found on this computer**, with the command or one-click link for each, editors included.
 
 ## What you see
 
diff --git a/packages/core/inbox-types.ts b/packages/core/inbox-types.ts
index 8a0a8e7c25..b79617f69f 100644
--- a/packages/core/inbox-types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/inbox-types.ts
@@ -1439,8 +1439,8 @@ export interface InboxConnectReport {
 }
 
 /** The agents whose own instructions file can carry the Inbox note (packages/server/inbox-agent-notes.ts). */
-export type InboxNoteAgentId = "claude-code" | "codex" | "opencode" | "pi" | "gemini";
-export const INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS: readonly InboxNoteAgentId[] = ["claude-code", "codex", "gemini", "pi", "opencode"];
+export type InboxNoteAgentId = "claude-code" | "codex" | "opencode" | "pi" | "gemini" | "cursor";
+export const INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS: readonly InboxNoteAgentId[] = ["claude-code", "codex", "gemini", "pi", "opencode", "cursor"];
 
 /**
  * Where an agent's note would go and how it stands:
@@ -1457,7 +1457,7 @@ export interface InboxAgentNoteStatus {
   path: string | null;
   /** The file is a link; `target` is where it leads (shown). */
   target: string | null;
-  state: "absent" | "added" | "edited" | "damaged" | "refused" | "unavailable";
+  state: "absent" | "added" | "edited" | "damaged" | "refused" | "unavailable" | "manual";
   /** Adding it creates the file. */
   create: boolean;
   /** Plannotator created the file (removing the note deletes it when nothing else is left). */
diff --git a/packages/inbox/agentNoteDialog.test.tsx b/packages/inbox/agentNoteDialog.test.tsx
index 72243325db..a3fcdc423d 100644
--- a/packages/inbox/agentNoteDialog.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/inbox/agentNoteDialog.test.tsx
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ test.skipIf(!hasDom)('Add: only the ticked notes are sent; results in the same r
   // The results view: focus on Done, the live region says what was written, the band is gone.
   expect(document.activeElement).toBe(button(el, 'Done'));
   expect(el.querySelector('[data-anote-band]')).toBeNull();
-  expect(el.querySelector('.ib-anote-doneline')?.textContent).toBe('Each agent reads it from its next session. Fix the file, then try again here or in Settings → Agents.');
+  expect(el.querySelector('.ib-anote-doneline')?.textContent).toBe('Managed notes are read from each agent’s next session. Fix the file, then try again here or in Settings → Agents.');
   expect(el.querySelector('[aria-live="polite"]')?.textContent).toBe("Added the note to Codex. Couldn't add the note to Gemini CLI.");
 
   act(() => button(el, 'Try again').click());
diff --git a/packages/inbox/agents.ts b/packages/inbox/agents.ts
index 3851f43668..c61aa9c8bd 100644
--- a/packages/inbox/agents.ts
+++ b/packages/inbox/agents.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {
 export function noteCandidates(model: InboxAgentsModel): InboxAgentRow[] {
   const failed = new Set(model.last_report?.failed.map((f) => f.agent) ?? []);
   return model.agents.filter(
-    (row) => row.detected && row.note !== null && row.note.state === 'absent' && row.reach.on && !failed.has(row.id),
+    (row) => row.detected && row.note !== null && (row.note.state === 'absent' || row.note.state === 'manual') && row.reach.on && !failed.has(row.id),
   );
 }
 
@@ -119,8 +119,9 @@ export function defaultPicks(rows: readonly InboxAgentRow[]): Record<string, boo
 }
 
 /** What a note result shows in its row. */
-export function noteResultLabel(result: { ok: true; action: string } | { ok: false }): 'Created' | 'Added' | 'Not added' {
+export function noteResultLabel(result: { ok: true; action: string } | { ok: false }): 'Created' | 'Added' | 'Copy manually' | 'Not added' {
   if (!result.ok) return 'Not added';
+  if (result.action === 'manual') return 'Copy manually';
   return result.action === 'created' ? 'Created' : 'Added';
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/inbox/agentsSettings.test.tsx b/packages/inbox/agentsSettings.test.tsx
index 4e6bf3f886..69b35fffcc 100644
--- a/packages/inbox/agentsSettings.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/inbox/agentsSettings.test.tsx
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ function model(over: Partial<InboxAgentsModel> = {}): InboxAgentsModel {
       tool('opencode', 'OpenCode', {
         note: note('opencode', { path: '~/.config/opencode/AGENTS.md', state: 'unavailable', reason: 'Creating this file would stop OpenCode 1 from reading your ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md.' }),
       }),
-      mcp('cursor', 'Cursor', '~/.cursor/mcp.json', { reach: { kind: 'mcp', on: false, state: 'removed', path: '~/.cursor/mcp.json', locked: false, reason: null } }),
+      mcp('cursor', 'Cursor', '~/.cursor/mcp.json', {
+        reach: { kind: 'mcp', on: false, state: 'removed', path: '~/.cursor/mcp.json', locked: false, reason: null },
+        note: note('cursor', { state: 'manual', reason: 'Cursor User Rules are managed in Settings → Rules; Plannotator cannot install, update or remove a copied rule.' }),
+      }),
       { ...mcp('amp', 'Amp', '~/.config/amp/settings.json'), detected: false },
     ],
     last_report: null,
@@ -124,7 +127,7 @@ test.skipIf(!hasDom)('one group per agent found, with its switches and the state
   expect(group(el, 'cursor').querySelector('.ib-agstate')?.textContent).toBe('Removed outside Plannotator');
   expect(rows(group(el, 'cursor'))).toEqual([
     { k: 'Reaches the Inbox', v: "plannotator-inbox is no longer in ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Plannotator won't add it back on its own; turn this on to add it.", sw: 'false', sub: null },
-    { k: 'Note in its instructions', v: 'Cursor keeps its rules in its own settings, so there is no file to add a note to.', sw: null, sub: null },
+    { k: 'Note in its instructions', v: 'Cursor User Rules · copy into Settings → RulesShow note', sw: null, sub: 'Cursor User Rules are managed in Settings → Rules; Plannotator cannot install, update or remove a copied rule.' }
   ]);
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/inbox/api.ts b/packages/inbox/api.ts
index 89bb0679c2..bf14c3f60a 100644
--- a/packages/inbox/api.ts
+++ b/packages/inbox/api.ts
@@ -827,7 +827,7 @@ export const inboxApi = {
 };
 
 /** One note the dialog asked to add: written, or why not. */
-export type InboxNoteResult = { ok: true; agent: InboxNoteAgentId; action: string; path: string } | { ok: false; agent: InboxNoteAgentId; reason: string; path: string | null };
+export type InboxNoteResult = { ok: true; agent: InboxNoteAgentId; action: string; path: string | null } | { ok: false; agent: InboxNoteAgentId; reason: string; path: string | null };
 
 /** One store line as the event stream carries it (packages/server/inbox.ts, `eventPayload`). */
 export type InboxEvent =
diff --git a/packages/inbox/components/AgentNoteDialog.tsx b/packages/inbox/components/AgentNoteDialog.tsx
index 58c88b309e..89174774a6 100644
--- a/packages/inbox/components/AgentNoteDialog.tsx
+++ b/packages/inbox/components/AgentNoteDialog.tsx
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ export function AgentNoteDialog({ rows, report, noteText, onModel, onSettings, o
   }, [phase, focusDone]);
 
   const single = rows.length === 1;
+  const cursorOnly = rows.every((row) => row.id === 'cursor');
+  const visibleNote = cursorOnly ? noteText.split('\n').filter((line) => !line.startsWith('<!-- plannotator-inbox:')).join('\n') : noteText;
+  const isManual = (agent: string) => {
+    const result = status[agent];
+    return result?.kind === 'done' && result.result.ok && result.result.action === 'manual';
+  };
   const asked = rows.map((row) => row.id as InboxNoteAgentId);
   const picked = rows.filter((row) => picks[row.id]);
   const primary = primaryAction(picked.map((row) => row.label));
@@ -75,9 +81,10 @@ export function AgentNoteDialog({ rows, report, noteText, onModel, onSettings, o
       for (const result of results) next[result.agent] = { kind: 'done', result };
       return next;
     });
-    const ok = results.filter((result) => result.ok).map((result) => INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[result.agent]);
+    const ok = results.filter((result) => result.ok && result.action !== 'manual').map((result) => INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[result.agent]);
+    const manual = results.some((result) => result.ok && result.action === 'manual');
     const bad = results.filter((result) => !result.ok).map((result) => INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[result.agent]);
-    setLive([ok.length ? `Added the note to ${joinNames(ok)}.` : '', bad.length ? `Couldn't add the note to ${joinNames(bad)}.` : ''].filter(Boolean).join(' '));
+    setLive([ok.length ? `Added the note to ${joinNames(ok)}.` : '', manual ? 'Copy the note into Cursor Settings → Rules. Plannotator cannot track or remove it.' : '', bad.length ? `Couldn't add the note to ${joinNames(bad)}.` : ''].filter(Boolean).join(' '));
   };
   const failedAll = (agents: InboxNoteAgentId[], err: unknown): InboxNoteResult[] =>
     agents.map((agent) => ({ ok: false, agent, reason: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err), path: null }));
@@ -116,18 +123,24 @@ export function AgentNoteDialog({ rows, report, noteText, onModel, onSettings, o
   const anyFailed = doneRows.some((row) => { const s = status[row.id]; return s?.kind === 'done' && !s.result.ok; });
   const done = phase === 'done';
 
+  const hasManual = okRows.some((row) => isManual(row.id));
+  const manualOnly = hasManual && okRows.every((row) => isManual(row.id));
   const title = done
-    ? okRows.length > 0
-      ? `Added the note to ${whoLabel(okRows.map((row) => row.label))}`
-      : 'The note was not added'
+    ? manualOnly
+      ? 'Copy the note into Cursor Settings → Rules'
+      : okRows.length > 0
+        ? `Added the note to ${whoLabel(okRows.filter((row) => !isManual(row.id)).map((row) => row.label))}`
+        : 'The note was not added'
     : single
       ? `Add the note to ${rows[0]!.label}?`
       : 'Tell your agents about the Inbox';
   const desc = done
     ? null
-    : single
-      ? "A short note in its instructions tells it to send you decisions and finished work here while you're away. Plain text you can edit or delete."
-      : "Plannotator can add a short note to each agent's instructions, so they send you decisions and finished work here while you're away. Plain text you can edit or delete.";
+    : cursorOnly
+      ? 'Copy this note into Cursor Settings → Rules. Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.'
+      : single
+        ? "A short note in its instructions tells it to send you decisions and finished work here while you're away. Plain text you can edit or delete."
+        : `Plannotator can add a short note to each selected agent's instructions. ${rows.some((row) => row.id === 'cursor') ? 'Cursor needs a manual copy into Settings → Rules, which Plannotator cannot track or remove. ' : ''}Plain text you can edit or delete.`;
 
   return (
     <Modal
@@ -215,8 +228,9 @@ export function AgentNoteDialog({ rows, report, noteText, onModel, onSettings, o
               })}
             </ul>
             <p className="ib-anote-doneline">
-              {[okRows.length > 0 ? 'Each agent reads it from its next session.' : '', anyFailed ? 'Fix the file, then try again here or in Settings → Agents.' : ''].filter(Boolean).join(' ')}
+              {[okRows.some((row) => !isManual(row.id)) ? 'Managed notes are read from each agent’s next session.' : '', hasManual ? 'Copy the note below into Cursor Settings → Rules. Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.' : '', anyFailed ? 'Fix the file, then try again here or in Settings → Agents.' : ''].filter(Boolean).join(' ')}
             </p>
+            {hasManual && <div className="ib-anote-note"><pre tabIndex={0} aria-label="The note to copy into Cursor User Rules"><NoteText text={visibleNote} /></pre></div>}
           </>
         ) : (
           <>
@@ -258,7 +272,7 @@ export function AgentNoteDialog({ rows, report, noteText, onModel, onSettings, o
             {preview && (
               <div className="ib-anote-note" id={`${id}-note`}>
                 <pre tabIndex={0} aria-label="The note Plannotator adds">
-                  <NoteText text={noteText} />
+                  <NoteText text={visibleNote} />
                 </pre>
               </div>
             )}
@@ -268,7 +282,7 @@ export function AgentNoteDialog({ rows, report, noteText, onModel, onSettings, o
       <div className="ib-anote-foot" data-busy={busy || undefined}>
         {done ? (
           <>
-            <span className="ib-anote-later">Remove it any time in Settings → Agents.</span>
+            <span className="ib-anote-later">{manualOnly ? 'Plannotator cannot remove a copied Cursor rule.' : hasManual ? 'Managed notes can be removed in Settings → Agents; copied Cursor rules stay in your settings.' : 'Remove it any time in Settings → Agents.'}</span>
             <button type="button" className="ib-btn ib-pri" data-anote-done="" ref={doneRef} onClick={close}>
               Done
             </button>
@@ -282,7 +296,7 @@ export function AgentNoteDialog({ rows, report, noteText, onModel, onSettings, o
               </button>
             )}
             <button type="button" className="ib-btn ib-pri" data-anote-primary="" aria-disabled={busy || undefined} onClick={() => void add()}>
-              {busy ? 'Adding…' : primary.label}
+              {busy ? 'Preparing…' : picked.length === 1 && picked[0]?.id === 'cursor' ? 'Show note to copy' : primary.label}
             </button>
           </>
         )}
diff --git a/packages/inbox/components/AgentsSettings.tsx b/packages/inbox/components/AgentsSettings.tsx
index 2659c749c2..d04d7dbbb9 100644
--- a/packages/inbox/components/AgentsSettings.tsx
+++ b/packages/inbox/components/AgentsSettings.tsx
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ function stateOf(row: InboxAgentRow): { text: string; tone: 'on' | 'off' | 'bad'
 
 /** Agents whose instructions live in their own settings, not a file. */
 const NO_NOTE_FILE: Partial<Record<InboxAgentId, string>> = {
-  cursor: 'Cursor keeps its rules in its own settings, so there is no file to add a note to.',
   kiro: 'Kiro CLI has no global instructions file, so there is no file to add a note to.',
 };
 
@@ -280,7 +279,9 @@ function AgentGroup({
         ? note.create
           ? 'would create'
           : 'no note yet'
-        : note.state === 'unavailable'
+        : note.state === 'manual'
+          ? 'copy into Settings → Rules'
+          : note.state === 'unavailable'
           ? 'no file yet'
           : ''
     : '';
@@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ function AgentGroup({
       ? note.reason
       : note?.state === 'edited'
       ? "You edited this note, so Plannotator won't update it. Turning it off removes it as you left it."
-      : note?.state === 'unavailable' || note?.state === 'damaged' || note?.state === 'refused'
+      : note?.state === 'manual' || note?.state === 'unavailable' || note?.state === 'damaged' || note?.state === 'refused'
         ? note.reason
         : note?.shared_with && note.shared_with.length > 0
           ? `This file is shared with ${note.shared_with.map((id) => INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[id]).join(' and ')}: one section, kept while either has it on.`
@@ -363,10 +364,10 @@ function AgentGroup({
             k="Note in its instructions"
             v={
               <>
-                <code>{note.path}</code>
+                {note.path ? <code>{note.path}</code> : row.id === 'cursor' ? 'Cursor User Rules' : null}
                 {noteState && <> · {noteState}</>}
                 <button type="button" className="ib-lnk" aria-expanded={show} aria-controls={`${id}-note`} onClick={() => setShow((open) => !open)}>
-                  {show ? 'Hide' : 'Show'}
+                  {show ? 'Hide' : row.id === 'cursor' ? 'Show note' : 'Show'}
                 </button>
               </>
             }
@@ -379,13 +380,14 @@ function AgentGroup({
               ) : null
             }
             sub={noteSub}
-            warn={(note.state === 'unavailable' || note.state === 'damaged' || note.state === 'refused') && noteSub !== null}
+            warn={(note.state === 'manual' || note.state === 'unavailable' || note.state === 'damaged' || note.state === 'refused') && noteSub !== null}
           />
           {show && (
             <div className="ib-agrow ib-agnote" id={`${id}-note`}>
               <span />
               <div className="ib-cbox">
-                <pre>{noteText}</pre>
+                {row.id === 'cursor' && <p>Copy this text into Cursor Settings → Rules. Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.</p>}
+                <pre>{row.id === 'cursor' ? noteText.split('\n').filter((line) => !line.startsWith('<!-- plannotator-inbox:')).join('\n') : noteText}</pre>
               </div>
             </div>
           )}
diff --git a/packages/server/inbox-agent-notes.ts b/packages/server/inbox-agent-notes.ts
index 433dd14422..ab30d86165 100644
--- a/packages/server/inbox-agent-notes.ts
+++ b/packages/server/inbox-agent-notes.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  *    `AGENTS.MD`, `CLAUDE.md`, `CLAUDE.MD` (Pi reads only one); `AGENTS.md`
  *    created only when none does.
  *  - Gemini CLI: `~/.gemini/<context.fileName>`, default `GEMINI.md`.
+ *  - Cursor: manual copy to Settings → Rules; Cursor documents no supported global rules file.
  *
  * The block sits between markers at the END of the file. Exactly one start
  * before exactly one end: the block is ours; none: appended; anything else:
@@ -173,6 +174,8 @@ function claudeRulesFile(e: AgentEnvironment): string {
 export function noteTarget(agent: InboxNoteAgentId, e: AgentEnvironment): NoteTarget {
   const exists = (path: string) => existsSync(path);
   switch (agent) {
+    case "cursor":
+      return { path: null, create: false, reason: "Cursor User Rules are managed in Settings → Rules; Plannotator cannot install, update or remove a copied rule." };
     case "claude-code":
       return { path: claudeRulesFile(e), create: !exists(claudeRulesFile(e)), reason: null };
     case "codex": {
@@ -287,6 +290,9 @@ function sharers(agent: InboxNoteAgentId, path: string, dataDir: string): InboxN
 
 export function noteStatus(agent: InboxNoteAgentId, dataDir: string, e: AgentEnvironment): InboxAgentNoteStatus {
   const target = noteTarget(agent, e);
+  if (agent === "cursor") {
+    return { agent, path: null, target: null, state: "manual", create: false, created: false, reason: target.reason, shared_with: [] };
+  }
   const record = readInboxAgentNotes(dataDir).notes[agent];
   const real = target.path ? resolved(target.path) : null;
   const linked = target.path && real && real !== target.path ? displayPath(real, e) : null;
@@ -463,6 +469,8 @@ function removeNoteFrom(agent: InboxNoteAgentId, dataDir: string, e: AgentEnviro
 /** Every file a note could be in for `agent` (for the uninstall scan when the record is gone). */
 function candidatePaths(agent: InboxNoteAgentId, e: AgentEnvironment): string[] {
   switch (agent) {
+    case "cursor":
+      return [];
     case "codex":
       return [join(codexHome(e), "AGENTS.override.md"), join(codexHome(e), "AGENTS.md")];
     case "pi":
@@ -551,7 +559,8 @@ export async function noteCandidateIds(options: ConnectOptions): Promise<InboxNo
   const out: InboxNoteAgentId[] = [];
   for (const id of INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS) {
     if (failed.has(id) || !agentSpec(id).detect(e)) continue;
-    if (noteStatus(id, options.dataDir, e).state !== "absent") continue;
+    const state = noteStatus(id, options.dataDir, e).state;
+    if (state !== "absent" && state !== "manual") continue;
     if ((await inboxAgentReach(id, options)).on) out.push(id);
   }
   return out;
@@ -568,7 +577,7 @@ export function noteHolderIds(options: Pick<ConnectOptions, "dataDir" | "environ
   const records = readInboxAgentNotes(options.dataDir).notes;
   return INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS.filter((id) => {
     if (records[id]) return true;
-    if (!agentSpec(id).detect(options.environment)) return false;
+    if (id === "cursor" || !agentSpec(id).detect(options.environment)) return false;
     const state = noteStatus(id, options.dataDir, options.environment).state;
     return state === "added" || state === "edited";
   });
diff --git a/packages/server/inbox.ts b/packages/server/inbox.ts
index a12bef7c40..a8c3765fd0 100644
--- a/packages/server/inbox.ts
+++ b/packages/server/inbox.ts
@@ -1087,7 +1087,8 @@ export async function startInboxServer(options: InboxServerOptions = {}): Promis
       }
     }
     if (typeof body.note === "boolean") {
-      if (!(INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS as readonly string[]).includes(agent)) throw new InboxError("validation_error", "note: this agent has no instructions file.", { field: "note" });
+      if (!(INBOX_NOTE_AGENT_IDS as readonly string[]).includes(agent)) throw new InboxError("validation_error", "note: this agent has no Inbox note workflow.", { field: "note" });
+      if (agent === "cursor") throw new InboxError("validation_error", "Cursor rules must be copied manually from Settings → Agents.", { field: "note" });
       if (inboxNotesDisabled(agentEnvironment.env) && body.note) throw new InboxError("notes_disabled", "PLANNOTATOR_INBOX_NOTES=0 is set: notes are off.");
       // Adding one needs the agent here, as the note dialog and --notes ask; switching one off never does.
       if (body.note && !agentSpec(agent).detect(agentEnvironment)) {
@@ -1125,10 +1126,12 @@ export async function startInboxServer(options: InboxServerOptions = {}): Promis
     // Read before adding: an agent whose note is added is no longer a candidate.
     const shown = (body.asked as InboxNoteAgentId[] | undefined) ?? (await noteCandidateIds(options));
     const results = adding.map((agent) =>
-      // Never a file for an agent that is not on this computer.
-      agentSpec(agent).detect(agentEnvironment)
-        ? addInboxNote(agent, dataDir, agentEnvironment)
-        : ({ ok: false, agent, reason: `${INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[agent]} was not found on this computer`, path: null } as const),
+      agent === "cursor"
+        ? ({ ok: true, agent, action: "manual", path: null } as const)
+        // Never a file for an agent that is not on this computer.
+        : agentSpec(agent).detect(agentEnvironment)
+          ? addInboxNote(agent, dataDir, agentEnvironment)
+          : ({ ok: false, agent, reason: `${INBOX_AGENT_LABELS[agent]} was not found on this computer`, path: null } as const),
     );
     const failed = new Set(results.filter((result) => !result.ok).map((result) => result.agent));
     await markNotesAsked([...new Set([...shown, ...adding])].filter((id) => !failed.has(id)), options);
diff --git a/tests/e2e/inbox-agents.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/inbox-agents.spec.ts
index aea66c76d5..3ea98ca9f8 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/inbox-agents.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/inbox-agents.spec.ts
@@ -239,13 +239,38 @@ test('plannotator inbox connects the agents found; the note is asked once per ag
     await page.reload();
     await expectNoDialog(page);
 
-    // A run that connects only an agent with no note file (Cursor): news, but no question, so no dialog.
+    // Cursor's global User Rules have no supported file path: offer manual copy without reporting installation.
     mkdirSync(join(fake.home, '.cursor'), { recursive: true });
     const cursor = run(['--no-open']);
     expect(cursor.status, cursor.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(cursor.stderr).toContain('Connected Cursor to the Inbox (new on this computer).');
     await page.reload();
-    await expectNoDialog(page);
+    const cursorDialog = dialogOf(page);
+    await expect(cursorDialog).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+    await expect(cursorDialog.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Add the note to Cursor?' })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(rowsOf(page).locator('.ib-anote-path')).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(cursorDialog.locator('[data-anote-primary]')).toHaveText('Show note to copy');
+    await cursorDialog.locator('[data-anote-primary]').click();
+    await expect(cursorDialog.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Copy the note into Cursor Settings → Rules' })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(rowsOf(page).locator('.ib-anote-st')).toHaveText('Copy manually');
+    await expect(cursorDialog.locator('.ib-anote-doneline')).toContainText('Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.');
+    await expect(cursorDialog.locator('.ib-anote-note pre')).toContainText('## Plannotator Inbox');
+    await expect(cursorDialog.locator('.ib-anote-note pre')).not.toContainText('plannotator-inbox:start');
+    expect(existsSync(join(fake.home, '.cursor', 'rules'))).toBe(false);
+    const noteRecords = JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(root, 'data', 'inbox', 'agent-notes.json'), 'utf8')) as { notes: Record<string, unknown> };
+    expect(noteRecords.notes).not.toHaveProperty('cursor');
+    expect(config(root).inboxAgentNotes.asked).toContain('cursor');
+    await cursorDialog.getByRole('button', { name: 'Done' }).click();
+    await expect(cursorDialog).toHaveCount(0);
+    await page.goto(`${url}#settings/agents`);
+    const cursorSettings = page.locator('[data-agent="cursor"]');
+    const cursorNoteRow = cursorSettings.locator('.ib-agrow').filter({ hasText: 'Note in its instructions' });
+    await expect(cursorNoteRow).toContainText('copy into Settings → Rules');
+    await expect(cursorNoteRow.getByRole('switch')).toHaveCount(0);
+    await cursorSettings.getByRole('button', { name: 'Show note' }).click();
+    await expect(cursorSettings.locator('.ib-agnote')).toContainText('Plannotator cannot detect, update or remove a copied rule.');
+    await expect(cursorSettings.locator('.ib-agnote pre')).toContainText('## Plannotator Inbox');
+    await expect(cursorSettings.locator('.ib-agnote pre')).not.toContainText('plannotator-inbox:start');
   } finally {
     await context.close().catch(() => {});
     await removeInboxScratch(root);