recover is only supported for Codex sessions; use `f ai code

Error message

recover is only supported for Codex sessions; use `f ai codex recover ...`

What it means

Raised by `run_provider` in src/ai.rs when the `recover` action is dispatched against a Cursor session. Session recovery is a Codex-only integration (see recover_codex_sessions); the Cursor match arm bails with guidance toward `f ai codex recover ...`.

Source

Thrown at src/ai.rs:634

            }
            Some(ProviderAiAction::Log { .. }) => {
                bail!("log is only supported for Codex sessions; use `f codex log ...`");
            }
            Some(ProviderAiAction::Sessions { .. })
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::Browse { .. })
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::Continue { .. })
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::New)
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::Open { .. })
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::Resolve { .. })
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::Resume { .. })
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::Find { .. })
            | Some(ProviderAiAction::FindAndCopy { .. }) => {
                bail!(
                    "Cursor transcripts are readable only; use `f cursor list`, `f cursor copy`, or `f cursor context`"
                );
            }
            Some(ProviderAiAction::Recover { .. }) => {
                bail!("recover is only supported for Codex sessions; use `f ai codex recover ...`");
            }
        }
        return Ok(());
    }

    match action {
        None => quick_start_session(provider)?,
        Some(ProviderAiAction::List) => list_sessions(provider)?,
        Some(ProviderAiAction::LatestId { path }) => print_latest_session_id(provider, path)?,
        Some(ProviderAiAction::Sessions { path, json }) => provider_sessions(provider, path, json)?,
        Some(ProviderAiAction::Browse { path, query }) => {
            browse_codex_sessions(path, query, provider)?
        }
        Some(ProviderAiAction::Continue { session, path }) => {
            continue_session(session, path, provider)?
        }
        Some(ProviderAiAction::New) => new_session(provider)?,
        Some(ProviderAiAction::Connect {

View on GitHub (pinned to a747e741ae)

Solutions

Run `f ai codex recover ...` — recovery only operates on Codex sessions
For Cursor, manually copy the transcript you still have via `f cursor copy` or `f cursor context` before it is lost
Keep regular backups of Cursor transcript data since no CLI recovery exists
Gate Recover dispatch on Provider::Codex in automation

Example fix

// before
f cursor recover --limit 5
// after
f ai codex recover --limit 5
# for Cursor, salvage what exists:
f cursor copy --session abc > backup.md

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

fn supports_recover(provider: Provider) -> bool {
    matches!(provider, Provider::Codex)
}
if !supports_recover(provider) {
    eprintln!("recover requires Codex: use `f ai codex recover ...`");
    return;
}
// For Cursor, proactively copy transcripts before data loss:
// f cursor list && f cursor copy --session <id> > backup.md

Type guard

fn is_codex(provider: Provider) -> bool {
    matches!(provider, Provider::Codex)
}

Try / catch

match run_provider(provider, Some(ProviderAiAction::Recover { .. })) {
    Err(e) if e.to_string().contains("recover is only supported for Codex") => {
        eprintln!("recovery unavailable for this provider; copying existing transcript instead");
    }
    other => other?,
}

Prevention

Only attempt recovery on Codex sessions
Back up Cursor transcripts regularly — there is no CLI recovery path for them
Salvage readable Cursor data with `f cursor copy` immediately after data loss
Keep recovery scripts pinned to `f ai codex recover`

When it happens

Trigger: Running `f cursor recover ...` or `f ai cursor recover ...`, i.e. run_provider(Provider::Cursor, Some(ProviderAiAction::Recover{..})). Occurs when attempting to recover lost sessions from Cursor transcript files.

Common situations: Trying to salvage a lost Cursor chat after a crash, recovery scripts written for Codex run against Cursor, assuming transcript files are writable/restorable like Codex session files.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of nikivdev/code@a747e741ae (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/cda6582437fe7765. Report an issue: GitHub.