How to Fix the Annoying Cursor Bug in VS Code & AI Editors
Z
Zack Saadioui
8/11/2025
Unstick Your Code: How to Fix the Annoying Cursor Bug That Messes with Your Workflow
Hey there! So, you're in the zone, deep into a coding session, & then it happens: the cursor starts acting up. Maybe it's jumping all over the place, or perhaps the code changes you're trying to make just aren't sticking without some weird scrolling ritual. Honestly, it's one of the most frustrating things that can happen when you're trying to be productive. Turns out, you're not alone in this struggle. This "cursor bug" is something a lot of developers have been running into, especially with popular editors like VS Code & the newer AI-powered ones like Cursor.
Here's the thing, it's not just one single bug. It's more like a family of related, super annoying issues that all have to do with a disconnect between where your cursor is, what you're seeing on the screen, & what's actually happening to your code. It can feel like your editor is gaslighting you. But don't worry, I've dug into this, & I'm here to break down what's going on & how you can fix it.
What's the Deal with This Cursor Bug Anyway?
From what I've seen & read in forums & community discussions, the "cursor bug" can show up in a few different ways. Let's get into the nitty-gritty of each one.
The AI Editor Hiccup: When Code Changes Don't Apply
This one is a BIG headache for folks using AI-driven editors like Cursor. You're using a cool feature, like Cursor's Agent Mode, to generate or refactor a chunk of code. The AI does its thing, you see the proposed changes, you hit "apply," &... nothing. Or, even weirder, the change is applied, but the editor doesn't recognize it, so the AI tries to apply it again, leading to a messy, incorrect jumble of code.
This seems to happen more often with larger blocks of code or more complex changes. The community chatter suggests a few potential culprits. It could be an issue with how the editor handles newline characters within the code it's trying to change, or maybe something to do with file path recognition. It's like the editor's left hand doesn't know what its right hand is doing. The AI generates the code perfectly, but the editor itself fumbles the handoff when it tries to insert it into your file.
For businesses that rely on quick development cycles, this kind of bug can be a real productivity killer. It's also a reminder that while AI tools are getting incredibly powerful, the interface between the AI & the user is just as important. Speaking of which, this is where having a seamless, intuitive user experience is critical. When you're building customer-facing tools, for example, you can't afford these kinds of confusing interactions. That's why many businesses are turning to platforms like Arsturn. It helps them create custom AI chatbots that are trained on their own data, ensuring the conversation is always accurate & the user experience is smooth. No one wants a chatbot that gets stuck in a loop, just like no one wants a code editor that can't apply changes correctly.
The Classic VS Code "Ghost Scroll"
This is another common complaint, this time with the ever-popular VS Code. You're just trying to move your cursor around, maybe to select a bit of text or navigate to a different line, & suddenly the whole editor window starts scrolling uncontrollably. It's disorienting & immediately breaks your concentration.
This "ghost scroll" bug seems to have a few potential causes. It could be an extension that's not playing nicely with the editor, or a setting that's been inadvertently toggled. Some users have reported that disabling settings like "Editor: Scroll Beyond Last Line" or "Cursor Smooth Caret Animation" can help, but for others, the problem persists even after trying these fixes. It’s a classic case of “have you tried turning it off & on again,” but for your editor settings.
The Stuck Autoscroll Icon in VS Code
This is a really specific one, but it's maddening if it happens to you. Some users have found that after middle-clicking in the editor, their cursor gets permanently stuck as the "autoscroll" icon. You know the one—the little circle with the arrows. Once it's there, you can't get rid of it without completely restarting VS Code. Not just closing the window, but quitting the entire application.
This bug seems to be triggered by a very specific action—middle-clicking near the tab bar. Some users have found a workaround by changing the
1
window.zoomLevel
setting in their
1
settings.json
file. It's a weird fix, for sure, but it points to a strange interaction between the editor's rendering & the mouse input.
The "I-Can't-See-the-Changes" Problem
This is another one that pops up in the Cursor community. You've asked the AI to make a change, & it does, but the change happens in a part of the file that's currently off-screen, or maybe inside a collapsed function. So, from your perspective, it looks like nothing happened. You have to manually scroll around to find the change, which kind of defeats the purpose of having an AI assistant in the first place.
This is less of a "bug" & more of a user experience issue, but it's a valid frustration. Users have requested an "auto-scrolling" feature that would automatically jump to the location of the code change, making the whole process much smoother. It’s all about creating a seamless workflow, & little bumps like this can really get in the way.
How to Actually Fix These Annoying Bugs
Alright, so we've diagnosed the problems. Now, let's talk about solutions. Because these bugs are all a bit different, the fixes are going to vary. Here’s a rundown of what you can try.
For the AI Editor That Won't Apply Changes
This is a tough one because it seems to be a bug within the editor itself. However, here are a few things you can try based on user reports:
Apply Changes Manually: If the AI is generating the code correctly but failing to apply it, you can always go the old-fashioned route: copy the code block & paste it in yourself. It's not ideal, but it's a reliable workaround.
Break Down Large Changes: Since the bug seems to be more common with larger code blocks, try breaking down your requests to the AI. Instead of asking it to refactor a whole file, ask it to work on one function at a time.
Proactively Click "Apply": Some users have noticed that if they click the "apply" button themselves, rather than letting the agent do it automatically, the changes are more likely to be recognized correctly.
Keep Your Editor Updated: This is a big one. The developers of Cursor are likely aware of these issues & are working on fixes. Make sure you're always on the latest version of the software.
Check the Developer Console: If you're feeling adventurous, you can open the developer console in the editor & look for errors. You might see messages about "newline characters" or "file path" issues that can give you a clue as to what's going on under the hood.
Dealing with buggy internal tools can be a nightmare, but it’s even worse when your customer-facing tools are a pain to use. Imagine a customer trying to get help from your website, only to be met with a chatbot that gives confusing answers or gets stuck in a loop. That's a recipe for a lost customer. That's why it's so important to have a robust & reliable system. A solution like Arsturn is designed to avoid these kinds of problems. By building a no-code AI chatbot trained on your own business data, you can ensure that your customers get a smooth, helpful, & personalized experience every time they visit your site. It helps you build a meaningful connection with your audience through a chatbot that actually works.
For the VS Code Ghost Scroll
If your VS Code editor is taking you on an unwanted scrolling adventure, here are a few things to try:
Disable Interfering Extensions: This is the most likely culprit. Try disabling your extensions one by one to see if you can find the one that's causing the problem.
Check Your Settings: As mentioned earlier, take a look at these settings in your
1
settings.json
file:
1
"editor.scrollBeyondLastLine"
: Try setting this to
1
false
.
1
"editor.smoothScrolling"
: Try setting this to
1
false
.
1
"editor.cursorSmoothCaretAnimation"
: Try setting this to
1
off
.
Reset Your VS Code Profile: Sometimes, your settings profile can get corrupted. You can try resetting it to the default to see if that solves the problem.
Update, Update, Update: Just like with Cursor, make sure your VS Code is updated to the latest version. The developers are constantly pushing out bug fixes.
For the Stuck Autoscroll Icon
This weird little bug has a surprisingly simple, if strange, fix that has worked for some people:
Change the Zoom Level: Open your
1
settings.json
file & find the
1
"window.zoomLevel"
setting. If it's there, try changing the value. If it's not there, try adding it & setting it to
1
0
or
1
1
. It seems that this forces the editor to re-render in a way that can unstick the cursor.
The Full Restart: If that doesn't work, the only other known solution is to completely close all VS Code windows & restart the application.
For a Better Workflow with AI Code Changes
If your issue is more about the workflow & less about a hard bug, there are still things you can do to make your life easier.
Use Bookmarks or Comments: Before you ask the AI to make a change, you can add a unique comment like
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// AI_CHANGE_HERE
to the spot where you're working. That way, you can easily search for it after the change is made.
Keep Your Code Uncollapsed (Temporarily): If you're working with an AI that's making changes inside collapsed functions, it might be worth expanding them before you start the process. It's a bit of a hassle, but it will make it much easier to see what's happening in real-time.
Voice Your Opinion: The developers of these tools are hungry for feedback. If you have an idea for a feature that would improve your workflow, like an auto-scrolling function, head over to their community forums or GitHub page & let them know! That's how these products get better.
The Bigger Picture: The Future of Coding & AI
These cursor bugs, while super annoying, are really just growing pains. We're in a transitional period where AI is becoming more & more integrated into our daily coding workflows. The promise is huge: faster development, smarter code completion, & the ability to tackle more complex problems. But as with any new technology, there are going to be some bumps in the road.
The key is to be patient, be willing to experiment with workarounds, & to give feedback to the developers who are building these amazing tools. And in the meantime, it's good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to deal with the occasional hiccup.
It’s the same in the world of customer engagement. Businesses are eager to use AI to connect with their customers, but it has to be done right. You can't just throw a generic chatbot on your website & expect it to work wonders. You need a tool that's smart, reliable, & tailored to your specific business. That's the whole idea behind Arsturn. It lets you build a custom AI chatbot that provides instant, 24/7 support, answers questions accurately because it's trained on your data, & engages with your website visitors in a way that feels personal & helpful. It's all about boosting conversions & providing a great customer experience, without the buggy interface.
So, next time your cursor starts acting up, don't throw your laptop out the window. Take a deep breath, try some of these fixes, & remember that you're on the cutting edge of a new way of coding.
Hope this was helpful! Let me know if you've run into any other weird cursor bugs or if you've found other solutions. We're all in this together