/ask

Toggles Ask mode, where the agent only reads and makes no changes.

/ask toggles Ask mode for read-only questions. In Ask mode the agent can explore code and answer questions but cannot modify files or run commands with side effects. Also startable directly with --mode ask.

✅ WHEN TO USE IT?

Understand a codebase before planning changes

/ask — then ask 'How is the auth middleware structured?'

Make sure nothing gets changed by accident

/ask — research in an unfamiliar repo with no write risk

⛔ WHEN NOT TO?

The agent actually needs to change code

Changes are blocked in Ask mode, so the task doesn't move forward.

Better: Switch back to normal agent mode, or use /plan for structured implementation

A multi-step plan needs to be produced

/ask only gives answers, not step-by-step planning.

Better: Use /plan

SOURCES

Cursor Docs — Slash Commands ↗ cursor.com