How to Use Proxies with Cursor AI IDE (2026 Guide)

Why Use Proxies with Cursor AI?

Cursor AI is a powerful AI-first code editor. When developing AI applications, web scrapers, or API integrations, proxies become essential.

Avoid IP Blocks

Rotate IPs when scraping data for AI training to prevent website blocks.

Test Globally

Test AI applications from multiple geographic locations.

Bypass Rate Limits

Scale data collection beyond API rate limits.

Privacy & Security

Keep your development IP private during testing.

Setting Up Proxies in Cursor

Cursor inherits VS Code's network settings. Here are three methods:

Method 1: Environment Variables (Recommended)

.env

# Unix/Linux/macOS
export HTTP_PROXY="http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080"
export HTTPS_PROXY="http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080"

# Windows PowerShell
$env:HTTP_PROXY="http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080"
$env:HTTPS_PROXY="http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080"

Method 2: VS Code Settings

settings.json

{
  "http.proxy": "http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080",
  "http.proxyStrictSSL": false
}

Method 3: Code-Level Configuration

proxy-config.ts

import axios from 'axios';

const proxy = {
  host: 'gate.netdash.io',
  port: 8080,
  auth: {
    username: 'your-username',
    password: 'your-password'
  }
};

const response = await axios.get('https://api.example.com', { proxy });

Code Examples

Python: Web Scraping with Proxies

scraper.py

import requests

# Configure netdash residential proxy
proxies = {
    'http': 'http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080',
    'https': 'http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080'
}

# Scrape data for AI training
response = requests.get(
    'https://example.com/data',
    proxies=proxies,
    headers={'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0'}
)

training_data = response.json()
print(f"Collected {len(training_data)} samples")

TypeScript: AI Agent with Proxy

ai-agent.ts

import { HttpsProxyAgent } from 'https-proxy-agent';
import fetch from 'node-fetch';

const proxyAgent = new HttpsProxyAgent(
  'http://username:password@gate.netdash.io:8080'
);

async function fetchMarketData() {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.crypto.com/data', {
    agent: proxyAgent,
    headers: { 'User-Agent': 'AI-Agent/1.0' }
  });
  
  return await response.json();
}

const data = await fetchMarketData();

Common Use Cases

Training Data Collection

Scrape millions of web pages to train LLMs. Use residential proxies to avoid blocks.

AI Agent Development

Build autonomous agents that browse the web and collect data reliably.

API Testing

Test AI applications from different geolocations before deployment.

Competitor Analysis

Monitor competitor AI products without revealing your identity.

Best Practices

Use rotating proxies for large scraping jobs

Set proper User-Agent headers

Implement rate limiting (1-3s delays)

Handle proxy errors gracefully with retry logic

Use environment variables for credentials

Monitor proxy performance and success rates

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use proxies with Cursor AI IDE?▼

Yes, Cursor AI supports HTTP/HTTPS proxy configuration through environment variables and network settings. You can configure proxies for API requests, web scraping, and testing in your Cursor projects.

What type of proxies work best with Cursor?▼

Residential and datacenter proxies both work with Cursor. For AI training data collection, residential proxies offer better success rates. For API testing, datacenter proxies provide faster speeds at lower cost.

How do I set up a proxy in Cursor AI?▼

Set proxies via environment variables (HTTP_PROXY, HTTPS_PROXY), VS Code settings (http.proxy), or directly in your code using libraries like axios, requests, or fetch with proxy configuration.

Do I need rotating proxies for AI development?▼

It depends on your use case. For web scraping large datasets for AI training, rotating residential proxies prevent blocks. For API testing or development, static datacenter proxies are sufficient.