WindSurf Ai Guide

Windsurf is an AI-powered code editor/IDE that helps developers write, understand, edit, and generate code with its built-in AI agent, Cascade.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1 — Open the Official Windsurf Website

Go to the official Windsurf website and choose the option to download/get started with Windsurf.

What to do: Open windsurf.com and start the download.

Step 2 — Download and Install Windsurf

Download the version that matches your computer. Windsurf supports Windows, Mac and Linux.

What to do: Open the downloaded installer and follow the installation instructions.

Step 3 — Launch Windsurf

After installation, open the Windsurf application.

What to do: Wait for the Windsurf onboarding screen to appear.

Step 4 — Choose Your Setup

  • Windsurf lets you start fresh or import settings from VS Code or Cursor. You can also choose your preferred keyboard shortcuts.

  • Recommended: If you’re a beginner, select Start fresh.

Step 5 — Choose Your Editor Theme

Select the theme you prefer for the Windsurf editor.

What to do: Choose your preferred theme and continue to the next step.

Step 6 — Create Your Windsurf Account

Now create your Windsurf account. The official registration page supports registration with your name and email, as well as Google or GitHub sign-up.

What to do:

  1. Enter your first name.
  2. Enter your last name.
  3. Enter your email.
  4. Click Continue.

You can also use Google or GitHub to sign up.

Step 7 — Log In to Windsurf

If you already have an account, select Log in instead of creating a new account.

The official login page provides email/password login and options such as Google and GitHub.

What to do: Enter your account details and click Log in.

Forgot your password? Windsurf provides an official password-reset page.

Step 8 — Complete Authentication and Open Windsurf

After successful authentication, Windsurf can redirect you back to the editor. The official documentation says to click Open Windsurf after authentication.

What to do: Click Open Windsurf and return to the application.

Step 9 — Open a Project and Use Cascade

Once Windsurf is open, create a new project or open an existing folder. Cascade is Windsurf’s built-in AI coding assistant and can help with chatting, writing code and running code.

Example prompt:

Create a simple responsive portfolio website with HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Then review the generated changes before accepting them.

Step 10 — Start Coding With Windsurf

  • You are now ready to use Windsurf for AI-assisted development.

    You can use Windsurf to:

    • Generate code
    • Explain existing code
    • Fix errors
    • Modify multiple files
    • Create projects with Cascade
    • Use AI-assisted autocomplete
    • Open and work with existing folders
    • Use the integrated terminal

    The official documentation highlights Cascade, context awareness, terminal tools, MCP, memories, workflows and app deployment among Windsurf’s capabilities.

Quick Login Guide

Already have an account?

  1. Open Windsurf.
  2. Select Log in.
  3. Enter your email/password, or use Google/GitHub where available.
  4. Complete authentication.
  5. Click Open Windsurf if prompted.
  6. Return to the Windsurf editor.
  7. Open your project.
  8. Click Cascade.
  9. Enter your coding prompt.
  10. Start building.

Important Note

Windsurf’s interface can change as new versions are released, so some buttons or screens may look slightly different from the screenshots above. The steps are based on the current official Windsurf documentation and account pages.

Official Website
Download link