How to Use Windsurf (Now Devin Desktop): Setup Guide (2026)

If you've been searching for Windsurf and the website looks different, you're not imagining it. Windsurf has been renamed Devin Desktop. The editor is the same one, but the name, the branding and the first screen you see have changed, which makes older tutorials confusing.

This guide explains what's changed, how to install and set up the app today, and how to use its main features, following the official Devin Desktop docs. If you're weighing it against other editors, my list of Cursor alternatives is a useful companion.

Windsurf is now Devin Desktop: what changed

The Devin Desktop FAQ says it plainly: Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf. It's the same IDE and editor with the same features, now unified under the Devin brand. The same page says nothing is getting removed, and that existing Windsurf users receive the change as an ordinary update.

Here's the short version of what moved, according to the docs and the announcement post:

Old name or feature	Where it stands now
Windsurf	Renamed Devin Desktop
Cascade (the local AI agent)	Succeeded by Devin Local, with subagent support; the older Cascade agent stays available for a transition period
The surf terminal command	Replaced by the devin-desktop command
Windsurf JetBrains plugin	In maintenance mode; the docs point to Devin over the Agent Client Protocol instead
Windsurf rules files	Still read, with a new preferred folder for Devin rules

The main visible difference is that the Agent Command Center is now the default view. The classic editor is still there and fully accessible.

Installing Windsurf's successor, Devin Desktop

The setup page gives requirements and downloads for each system.

• Mac: requires OS X Yosemite or later.
• Windows: requires Windows 10 or later.
• Linux: there's a tar download, plus deb and rpm options that add a repository and install with your package manager.

Download from the official Devin pages only. Check the address before you click, because AI editors are a popular target for look-alike sites.

First-run setup in Devin Desktop

The docs describe three onboarding steps.

1. Choose a theme. Leave the option to install the devin-desktop terminal command ticked if you want to launch the app from a terminal. Expand Import Settings to pick your keybindings.
2. Sign in with a Devin account, or sign up. If login fails, the docs say you can use a Devin API key instead.
3. Start your first project.

Treat any API key like a password. Don't paste it into chats, shared documents or code you plan to publish.

Bringing your VS Code settings into Windsurf's new home

After onboarding, you can import configuration from VS Code or Cursor by opening the Command Palette, which is Command, Shift and P on a Mac or Control, Shift and P on Windows and Linux. The docs add two cautions: extensions can't be installed from every extension library, and some extensions are incompatible. If a favourite extension disappears, check the docs list of recommended extensions before assuming something is broken.

The announcement post says the editor, extensions, keybindings and workflows are backwards-compatible with Windsurf and VS Code, so most people find the change less dramatic than the new name suggests.

Using the Agent Command Center and Devin Local

This is the new part. The announcement describes the Agent Command Center as the place to manage every local and cloud agent from one Kanban view, with Spaces for sharing context between agents and grouping sessions, pull requests and files.

Devin Local is the local agent that succeeds Cascade. The FAQ describes it as rewritten, more efficient, and able to use subagents, and says it inherits your existing Windsurf settings. In practice that means you ask it to make changes in your project, review what it proposes, and accept or reject each one.

The docs also say Devin Desktop supports the open Agent Client Protocol, so other compatible agents can run inside it. The announcement names Codex, Claude Agent and OpenCode as examples.

Windsurf-style features still in Devin Desktop

The docs navigation lists the familiar tools alongside the new ones:

• Tab: AI autocomplete while you type.
• Command: an inline way to ask for an edit in place.
• Terminal: an upgraded built-in terminal.
• Browser previews: see your running project inside the editor.
• AI commit messages: draft a description of your changes.
• Memories, rules and workflows: ways to teach the agent your preferences and repeat common tasks.

Rules deserve a note. The FAQ says Devin Desktop still reads your existing Windsurf rules, including the single rules file and the rules folder, and prefers a new Devin rules folder for new ones. It also reads AGENTS.md files. Keep rules to style and process, never secrets.

Windsurf and Devin Desktop safety habits

• Review every change the agent proposes before you accept it, and run the code only after you've read it.
• Never paste passwords, tokens or API keys into prompts, rules or memories.
• Check which folders and terminals the agent can reach before letting it run commands.
• Work on a branch while you're learning, so any mistake is easy to undo.
• Read the privacy and data pages on the official Devin site if you work with client code.

Who Windsurf's successor suits

It suits developers who want one editor to manage both a local AI agent and cloud agents. If you only want simple autocomplete, it may be more than you need. For ideas on getting more from AI while coding, see my guide to ChatGPT prompts that speed up coding work, and if you'd like help deciding which tools make sense for your business, that's something I do as an AI consultant.

Frequently asked questions

Is Windsurf still available?

Windsurf has been renamed Devin Desktop. The FAQ says it's the same IDE with the same features under the Devin brand, and that nothing is being removed.

What happened to Cascade in Windsurf?

The FAQ says the local agent is being brought under the Devin brand as Devin Local, with subagent support, and the older Cascade agent stays available for a transition period.

How do I open Devin Desktop from the terminal?

The FAQ says the surf command has been replaced by the devin-desktop command. The setup page shows an option to install it during onboarding.

Can I import my VS Code settings?

Yes. After onboarding, open the Command Palette and run the import command for VS Code or Cursor. Some extensions are incompatible, so check afterwards.

Do my Windsurf rules still work?

The FAQ says Devin Desktop continues to read your existing Windsurf rules and also supports new Devin rules folders and AGENTS.md files.