How to Fix Cursor AppImage Not Running on Ubuntu 24.04

How to Fix Cursor AppImage Not Running on Ubuntu 24.04 (AppArmor Solution)

If you just downloaded Cursor for Ubuntu 24.04 and it won’t start, AppArmor is likely blocking it. This guide will show you how to properly configure AppArmor to allow the AppImage to run.

Why This Happens?

Ubuntu 24.04 enforces stricter AppArmor security policies, preventing some AppImages from running correctly. The fix involves creating an AppArmor profile that lets the Cursor AppImage run unconfined (without restrictions).

Step 1: Move Cursor AppImage to a Permanent Location

By default, downloaded AppImages reside in ~/Downloads/. It’s better to move them to ~/Applications/ for consistency:

mkdir -p ~/Applications
mv ~/Downloads/Cursor-0.46.8-be4f0962469499f009005e66867c8402202ff0b7.deb.glibc2.25-x86_64.AppImage ~/Applications/cursor.AppImage
chmod +x ~/Applications/cursor.AppImage

Step 2: Create an AppArmor Profile for Cursor

Create a new AppArmor profile at /etc/apparmor.d/cursor-appimage:

sudo nano /etc/apparmor.d/cursor-appimage

Paste the following contents:

# This profile allows everything and only exists to give the
# application a name instead of having the label "unconfined"

abi <abi/4.0>,
include <tunables/global>

profile cursor /home/{USER}/Applications/cursor*.AppImage flags=(unconfined) {
  userns,

  # Site-specific additions and overrides. See local/README for details.
  include if exists <local/cursor>
}

Important:

• Replace {USER} with your actual username or leave it as is (Ubuntu replaces it dynamically).
• The unconfined flag ensures Cursor runs without restrictions.

Step 3: Apply the AppArmor Policy

Run the following command to reload AppArmor with the new policy:

sudo apparmor_parser -r /etc/apparmor.d/cursor-appimage

Step 4: Run Cursor

Now, try launching Cursor again:

~/Applications/cursor.AppImage

It should start without AppArmor interference.

Bonus: Make Cursor Easier to Launch

To make Cursor available in your application launcher:

1. Create a desktop entry:

   nano ~/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop

1. Add the following contents:

   [Desktop Entry]
   Name=Cursor
   Exec=/home/{USER}/Applications/cursor.AppImage
   Icon=/home/{USER}/Applications/cursor-icon.png
   Type=Application
   Categories=Development;Utility;

1. Refresh your application menu:

   update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/

Now, you can find Cursor in your system’s application menu!