Can Claude Code and Cursor read the same instruction file?
By Matthew Firth, founder of ModelBrain · Oct 16, 2026 · 3 min readYes, through AGENTS.md. Cursor reads AGENTS.md. Claude Code reads it only when no CLAUDE.md exists in your working directory or above it, or when your CLAUDE.md imports it. Cursor's rules page does not mention CLAUDE.md. Here is our own proposal for checking this on any project, the three-layout test: put the same rule in three file layouts and ask Claude Code which rules it can see.
What we ran on October 16, 2026
We made three empty git repositories and put a one-line rule in each, naming a codeword. In each we ran Claude Code 2.1.301 on Linux in print mode and asked it to list every codeword in its project instructions. One run per layout, so this is a single sample, not a statistic.
| Layout | Files | Codewords Claude Code reported | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | AGENTS.md only | AGENTS-OWL | Loaded |
| B | AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md, each with its own codeword | CLAUDE-FOX only | AGENTS.md ignored |
| C | CLAUDE.md containing @AGENTS.md plus a line of its own | AGENTS-OWL and CLAUDE-FOX | Both loaded |
The result matches what the Claude Code docs say. The practical catch is layout B. If a teammate adds a CLAUDE.md to a repository that already has an AGENTS.md for Cursor, Claude Code stops reading the AGENTS.md and the two tools quietly work from different rules.
What each tool reads, by its own documentation
| Tool | Files it reads | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | CLAUDE.md and .claude/rules/. Reads AGENTS.md when no CLAUDE.md exists above the working directory, or through an import | Claude Code docs |
| Cursor | AGENTS.md at the root and in subdirectories, and .cursor/rules files with the .mdc extension. CLAUDE.md is not mentioned | Cursor docs |
How to make both read one file
Keep the shared rules in AGENTS.md. Put the line @AGENTS.md at the top of CLAUDE.md, then add anything specific to Claude Code below it. In our layout C that loaded both files. Claude Code reading AGENTS.md directly needs version 2.1.277 or later, according to its docs, so update first if you rely on that.
What this does not cover
This is about instruction files, the rules you write. It is not about the notes either tool saves for itself. Claude Code's auto memory is machine-local, and Cursor's rules page describes no memory feature, so neither carries over to the other tool. For how Claude's stores differ, see Claude memory explained. We did not test Cursor, so the Cursor column is its documentation, not our run.
Sources
- How Claude remembers your project, Claude Code docs
- Rules, Cursor docs
Common questions
Does Cursor read CLAUDE.md? The Cursor rules page lists AGENTS.md and .cursor/rules and does not mention CLAUDE.md. Do not rely on it without testing in your own Cursor version.
Does Claude Code read AGENTS.md? Yes, but only when no CLAUDE.md exists in your working directory or above it, or when your CLAUDE.md imports it. In our test, a repository with both files loaded only the CLAUDE.md.
How do I make Claude Code and Cursor share one rules file? Write the shared rules in AGENTS.md and add @AGENTS.md to CLAUDE.md. In our test that made Claude Code load both files, and Cursor reads AGENTS.md on its own.
Last checked October 16, 2026. Settings and tool behavior change often, so confirm a detail on the vendor's own page before relying on it.