How to Use Cursor for Refactoring (2026 Guide)

Select the function or module you want to refactor. Use @codebase in Chat to ask Cursor: 'Where is this function called and what does it depend on?'

Tell Cursor what you want to achieve: 'Refactor this to use the Repository pattern', or 'Extract the validation logic into a separate utility module'.

Switch to Agent (Cmd+Shift+L). Agent mode can read, edit, and create multiple files in one pass — essential for refactors that span modules.

Cursor shows a plan before making changes. Read it carefully — ensure it doesn't delete existing tests or change public API signatures unexpectedly.

After each file is changed, run your test suite. Don't let Cursor proceed to the next file until the current one passes.

Make small commits after each successful refactoring step. This makes it easy to revert a bad suggestion without losing all prior work.