Command reference ยท Cursor CLI
agent mcp disable <identifier>
Disables an MCP server so it stops loading or prompting for approval.
agent mcp disable <identifier> is a terminal subcommand โ called as cursor-agent mcp disable <identifier> directly in the shell, not a slash command. It fully disables an already-configured MCP server: afterward, the server is neither loaded at startup nor does the CLI ask for approval for it in the future.
The counterpart is agent mcp enable <identifier>, which puts a server back on the locally approved list. The same action can alternatively be performed within a running session via the interactive detail view of /mcp โ that view also offers login, logout with deletion of stored OAuth credentials, enable, and disable per server.
The setting applies server-wide and persistently, not just for the current request or session โ it stays in effect until you re-enable the server.
โ WHEN TO USE IT?
Turn off a faulty or unneeded MCP server
cursor-agent mcp disable old-server
Hide an internal/experimental server before a demo so it doesn't keep asking for approval
cursor-agent mcp disable playwright-experimental
โ WHEN NOT TO?
The server should only be ignored briefly for one run
agent mcp disable is a persistent, server-bound setting.
Better: simply don't include the server in the relevant prompt, or adjust the project-specific mcp.json
You only want to log the server out temporarily for testing but keep stored OAuth credentials
disable only changes the load/approval status, not the credentials.
Better: Open the detail view via /mcp and choose Logout specifically instead of Disable there, if credentials should be removed
SOURCES
- Cursor Docs โ CLI Reference: Parameters โ cursor.com
- Cursor Docs โ CLI MCP โ cursor.com