Introduce full-screen tabs and compact chat in Agents Window
TL;DR
Maximize your workspace with full-screen tabs for files, terminals, and canvases in the Agents Window. This release also adds compact chat responses with customizable tool call density, alongside various performance improvements and bug fixes.
What changed
On May 13, 2026, Cursor shipped version 3.4 with full-screen tabs inside the Agents Window. Files, terminals, canvases, PRs, and browsers can now expand to fill the entire panel. The agent chat collapses into a floating prompt bar during full-screen mode. Users toggle the mode through the panel header button, command palette, or Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+M.
The same release added compact chat responses. Three density settings control tool call visibility: Compact shows minimal traces, Balanced keeps key steps, and Detailed logs nearly everything. Eight performance tweaks and nine bug fixes shipped alongside, including smoother long-chat scrolling and cleaner environment switching.
Why it matters
Solo builders spend hours inside agent sessions. Full-screen tabs reduce context switching between code and chat. This change favors sustained work on complex tasks over constant back-and-forth.
Compact responses cut visual noise when reviewing long threads. The bet is that better workspace control will keep users inside Cursor instead of jumping to separate terminals or editors. Tools without similar layout options lose ground on daily workflow friction.
How to use it
Open the Agents Window in Cursor 3.4 or later. Click the expand icon in the right panel header to enter full-screen mode. Exit the same way or press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+M. Open chat settings to pick Compact, Balanced, or Detailed tool density.
No paid plan upgrade is required. The features are live for all users with the latest desktop release.
Watch for
Longer agent runs without scrolling fatigue will confirm the layout bet. Persistent chat hiding or lost prompt context would break it. Expect Cursor to add saved layout presets next.
Who this matters for
- Vibe Builders: Use full-screen tabs to manage complex canvas layouts and agent outputs without visual clutter.
- Developers: Toggle Cmd+Shift+M to expand terminals and PRs while keeping agent prompts in a floating overlay.
Harsh’s take
Cursor is doubling down on the agent-centric IDE experience. By allowing files and terminals to occupy the full Agents Window, they are acknowledging that the agent is no longer a sidecar: it is the primary workspace. The introduction of tool call density settings is a smart move for power users who find verbose logs distracting during rapid iterations.
This update targets the friction of context switching. Most IDEs treat chat as a secondary panel, but Cursor is evolving into a spatial manager for agentic workflows. If you are building complex features, the ability to see a full-screen terminal alongside a floating prompt bar is a significant ergonomic win.
It keeps the focus on the logic rather than the UI layout.
by Harsh Desai
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