How to use the Background Agent to offload long-running or complex tasks
The Background Agent is a remote, asynchronous agent that runs outside the main Cursor editor in a remote containerized environment. It allows you to offload long-running or complex tasks, so you can continue working or step away while the agent handles the job.
This is ideal for tasks that don’t require constant human input, such as:
- Fixing low-complexity bugs
- Building smaller, well scoped features
- Refactoring
How it works
The Background Agent is a standalone version of Cursor that:
- Runs on a remote containerized environment (e.g., Ubuntu)
- Executes independently of your local session
- Supports multiple concurrent agents for different tasks
- Notifies you when manual input is required
- Integrates with GitHub
You can delegate tasks, let agents run in the background, and review the output later: code changes, suggested fixes, or automated documentation.
Models
Only Max Mode-compatible models are available when using the Background Agent. Pricing is based on token usage, following the same structure as Max Mode. Learn more about Max Mode
Current Status
The Background Agent is in preview. We’re gradually rolling it out and actively improving the interface, integrations, and workflow capabilities.
Future
The Background Agent lays the groundwork for a distributed, scalable team of autonomous developer agents. It’s a key architectural step beyond traditional code editing and moving toward a world where agents can collaborate, divide work, and operate continuously.