Cursor Keeps Changing Unrelated Files — How to Fix

Symptoms

• You see unexpected changes or failures

Root causes

• Misconfigured rules
• Missing permissions or wrong env
• Workspace root mismatch

Fix checklist

1. Reduce scope: reproduce with a tiny change
2. Ensure rules/config are loaded
3. Remove write access temporarily
4. Validate with lint/build

Safe debugging prompts

Only diagnose. Do not change code until you identify the most likely root cause.
Provide the smallest fix and list files that will change.

Prevent recurrence

• Add tighter rules for file boundaries
• Add CI checks

FAQ

Should I let the agent run commands?

Prefer explicit, short commands and review outputs before applying changes.

What should I verify after the fix?

Re-run the exact failing path, then verify related pages, env handling, and the production build if relevant.

Should I change multiple files at once?

Prefer the smallest fix first so you can isolate whether the root cause is config, code, or environment.