How to generate UI with Cursor and v0

Have you ever attempted to generate UI components solely with Cursor? The results can be underwhelming.

Cursor is phenomenal for implementing logic, building features, and debugging, but UI design is not its strong suit. This is where v0 by Vercel shines.

Update: As of September 2025, if you prefer generating UI directly within Cursor, our testing suggests that GPT-5 is currently the most capable model.

Cursor + v0 workflow

Here is a seamless workflow to generate v0 prompts directly from Cursor Composer:

1. Ensure shadcn is installed in your project.
2. Create a v0.md file in your repository. Add the following instruction inside:
   • Analyze the requested component depth.
   • Generate a detailed prompt.
   • Create a clickable link using the prompt: [component name](https://v0.dev/chat?q={prompt})
   • Ensure the prompt is URL-encoded.
3. Open Cursor Composer using SHIFT + CMD + I (MacOS) or SHIFT + CTRL + I (Windows).
4. Describe the UI you want to build and reference your prompt file by typing @v0.md.
5. Click the generated v0 link to create and refine your component.
6. Copy the code back into your codebase... and you are finished!

See it in action

Let's apply this workflow to build a sign-up form. With this method, you skip the hassle of writing long, detailed prompts manually. Cursor handles the prompt engineering, allowing you to focus on building your application.