Cursor Remote Lite icon

Cursor Remote Lite

Cursor Remote Lite is a free, open-source tool to control Cursor remotely from Android, iPhone, or a browser, monitor Agents, approve actions, and review changes.

Cursor Remote Lite

Remote control for Cursor from a phone

Cursor Remote Lite is a free, open-source, self-hosted remote-control interface for Cursor. It lets a phone connect to Cursor running on a computer so users can assign Agent tasks, read progress, answer questions, approve commands, and inspect changes without carrying the computer.

A small Node.js relay runs on the computer and communicates with Cursor through the Chrome DevTools Protocol. The phone interface is delivered through a GitHub Pages app and connects through a Cloudflare tunnel, allowing local and SSH-based Cursor windows to be managed remotely. The computer still needs to stay awake, and the project notes that its macOS startup and background-service scripts are more complete than its Windows support.

Key features

Mobile Agent chat

View Agent conversation bubbles, tool-call cards, and thinking details from a phone, send replies, and respond when Cursor pauses for confirmation or a question.

Window and model controls

Switch among local, SSH, and Agents windows, and change Agent, Plan, or Ask modes, models, and available model parameters such as thinking intensity or Fast mode.

File preview and change review

Open referenced files in a line-numbered viewer, display images, and inspect files changed by the Agent, including added and deleted line counts.

Queued messages and run control

Keep messages sent while an Agent is working in Cursor's queue; edit, send immediately, delete, or stop the current Agent run from the phone.

Completion and approval notifications

Receive in-app or system notifications when an Agent finishes or waits for an action, with behavior documented for Android, iPhone home-screen apps, and browsers.

Device pairing and screen mode

Pair by scanning a one-time QR code, optionally enable Authenticator-based two-factor verification, and use a live screen mode for taps, scrolling, zooming, and keyboard input.

Practical use cases

  • Continue development away from the computer

    Start an Agent task before leaving home, then answer its questions, approve commands, and send follow-up instructions while commuting or attending meetings.

  • Supervise SSH-based development

    Leave Cursor connected to a company or home GPU machine over SSH and use the phone to monitor progress, inspect remote files, and handle approval prompts without opening a full remote desktop.

  • Review and selectively accept changes

    Review an Agent's output from a phone by checking changed files and line counts, previewing the affected content, and keeping or undoing files individually before accepting the result.

  • Manage multi-step Agent work

    Use queued messages and child-Agent status to coordinate a longer-running task: add the next instruction while the current turn runs, inspect sub-Agent conversations, or stop a run when needed.

  • Respond to completion and approval events

    Use notifications to react when Cursor finishes or pauses for confirmation, even when the phone is not actively viewing the relevant window.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Free, open-source, and self-hosted according to the project documentation.
  • Supports Android, iPhone home-screen apps, and browsers rather than limiting access to one mobile platform.
  • Can manage local, SSH remote, and Agents windows through a phone-oriented interface.
  • Keeps the relay, project code, and conversations on the user's computer instead of using a cloud Agent.
  • Includes review and safety controls such as per-file keep or undo actions, confirmation prompts, and optional two-factor authentication.

Cons

  • The relay computer must remain awake; sleep or closing a MacBook lid interrupts access.
  • The project relies on reading and controlling Cursor's interface, so major Cursor UI changes may require updates.
  • The free Cloudflare quick tunnel can disconnect and reconnect, and Windows currently requires manual startup.

FAQ

How is Cursor Remote Lite set up?

Clone the repository, run `npm install`, then `npm run setup`. The setup wizard checks for optional `cloudflared` and GitHub CLI dependencies, can create a public GitHub repository for the phone app and GitHub Pages hosting, and can configure startup behavior. Start Cursor with `./start-cursor.sh`, then run `npm run pair` to generate a one-time QR code for the phone.

What are the platform and dependency requirements?

The repository documents macOS as the primary setup platform. Node.js 22 or later, `cloudflared`, and the GitHub CLI are used for the documented workflow; the latter two mainly affect external access and a fixed app address. The server can also run on Windows and Linux, but the bundled background-service and startup scripts currently support macOS only.

How does the remote connection work?

The phone connects over HTTPS and WebSocket through a Cloudflare tunnel to the relay running on the computer. The relay then communicates with Cursor through the Chrome DevTools Protocol. The project states that code and conversations remain on the user's computer rather than being uploaded to a cloud Agent.

Can it control SSH remote windows as well as local windows?

Yes. The documented workflow supports local Cursor windows, SSH remote windows, and Agents windows. SSH file previews require the computer to be able to connect to the remote machine without entering an SSH password, as is commonly configured for a Cursor SSH connection.

Does the computer need to stay on?

The computer running the relay and Cursor must remain awake. The display may be turned off and the computer may be locked, but sleep or closing a MacBook lid will prevent the phone from connecting unless the documented external-display setup is used.

Quick Facts

Category
Developer Tool
Primary workflow
Remote control of Cursor Agent from a phone
Platforms
Android, iPhone home-screen app, and web browser
Self-hosting
Runs a Node.js relay on the user's computer
Connection
HTTPS/WebSocket via Cloudflare tunnel; relay to Cursor through CDP
License and price
MIT-licensed and free according to the repository documentation