Cursor error
Cursor: Listening for the OAuth callback
Listening for the OAuth callbackStatus: Fixed in releaseLast verified 3 documented fixes1 source
What it means
MCP OAuth login in the Cursor CLI hung on this status when the local OAuth callback port was already taken.
Causes
- The MCP OAuth callback port was already in use, for example by another Cursor app.
How to fix it
- Fix 1.
Fixed in Cursor CLI v2026.07.20: MCP OAuth login fails fast with an actionable message when the callback port is already taken, instead of hanging.
- Fix 2.
Cursor CLI v2026.10.08: MCP sign-in no longer fails when another Cursor app is already using the login callback port. The same release stops sending an unresolved ${VAR} client ID placeholder to the authorization server.
- Fix 3.
When authenticating a remote MCP server from an SSH session, the CLI shows port-forwarding instructions (added v2026.06.09).
More Cursor errors
All 18 Cursor errorsAgent Execution Timed OutStatus: WorkaroundTimeout waiting for EverythingProviderStatus: Workaround<filename> is too large (4MB limit)Status: By designCursor is damagedStatus: Workaroundsuspicious activityStatus: Workaroundxcrun: error: unable to find utility "mcpbridge"Status: Workaroundmissing tabIdentifierStatus: WorkaroundPrivate worker limit exceededStatus: By design
Related reading
- MCP Clients Compared: How to Pick a Host for 2026Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Zed, and opencode all speak MCP differently. Here is how their transport, auth, and tool-limit support compares.
- Open-Source MCP Servers Worth Installing in 2026The open-source MCP servers worth a permanent slot in your config, each with what it does, why it matters, and copy-paste setup for Claude Code and Cursor.
- How to Use MCP Servers: The Complete GuideMCP servers connect AI agents to databases, APIs, and tools through a standard protocol. Here is how to configure and use them with Claude Code and Cursor.
- Do Your Agent Hooks Fail Open? Claude Code vs Codex vs Cursor vs Gemini CLIA guard hook that crashes, times out or points at a missing script lets the tool call through by default in Claude Code. v2.1.295 adds onFailure: block. Here is what each coding agent does when your policy hook breaks, with real test runs.
- How to Keep API Keys Away From Your AI Coding Agent: Claude Code vs Codex vs Cursor vs Gemini CLIA deny rule on .env stops cat but not a Python one-liner. Here are the three layers that actually keep secrets out of a coding agent's context - file rules, environment scrubbing and credential masking - and what Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and Gemini CLI give you for each, with real test runs.
- Antigravity vs Cursor (2026): Pricing, Limits, Models, and Which to PickAntigravity vs Cursor: Antigravity is free with a weekly limit; Cursor starts at $20/month with the widest model menu. Pricing, limits and a decision guide.
FAQ
What does "Listening for the OAuth callback" mean in Cursor?
MCP OAuth login in the Cursor CLI hung on this status when the local OAuth callback port was already taken.
How do I fix "Listening for the OAuth callback"?
There are 3 documented fixes. Start with the first: Fixed in Cursor CLI v2026.07.20: MCP OAuth login fails fast with an actionable message when the callback port is already taken, instead of hanging.
Is this Cursor error fixed?
Status: Fixed in release. A release fixed this. The affected versions note says where the fix landed. Affected versions: Cursor CLI before v2026.07.20 (hang); before v2026.10.08 (callback port conflict with another Cursor app)
Sources
Last verified against 1 source: official docs, maintainer replies and release notes.
- cursor.comhttps://cursor.com/docs/cli/changelog
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