How to set default formatter in VSCode?
To set the default formatting tool for VSCode, first select and install the formatting extension, and then set the default formatter through the command panel; secondly, configure the formatting rules in settings.json; finally, enable automatic formatting when saving. The specific steps are: 1. Install formatting tools such as Prettier, and set the default formatter through the command panel (Format Document With...); 2. Add the default formatter configuration for the corresponding file type in settings.json to ensure the configuration is synchronized; 3. Optionally, enable editor.formatOnSave, editor.formatOnPaste and editor.formatOnType in settings.json to achieve automatic formatting when saving, pasting or inputting, but pay attention to performance impact.
Setting a default formatter in VSCode is actually pretty straightforward once you know where to look. The key is understanding that it depends on both your settings and the type of file you're working with.

1. Choose Your Preferred Formatter
VSCode supports multiple formatters like Prettier, ESLint, Beautify, and built-in ones. First, make sure the formatter you want is installed — either globally via npm or as a dev dependency in your project.
Once installed, go to the Extensions view ( Ctrl Shift X
) and search for the formatter. Install it if needed, then set it as default by:

- Opening Command Palette (
Ctrl Shift P
) - Typing "Format Document With..."
- Selecting your preferred formatter from the list
- Clicking the "Set as Default" option that appears
This sets the default formatter globally for all files of the same type (eg, JavaScript, JSON, HTML).
2. Configure Settings.json
To ensure consistent formatting across different machines or sessions, it's best to explicitly define your formatter in the settings.json
file.

You can access this by:
- Going to File > Preferences > Settings (or
Ctrl ,
) - Clicking the
{}
icon in the top-right corner to open the JSON editor
Then add lines like these:
{ "[javascript]": { "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode" }, "[typescript]": { "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode" }, "[json]": { "editor.defaultFormatter": "vscode.json-language-features" } }
Replace the formatter ID with the one you're using. You can find the exact ID in the extension details page inside VSCode.
3. Enable Format on Save (Optional but Helpful)
One common setup people often miss is enabling auto-formatting when saving a file. This helps keep your code clean without extra effort.
In your settings.json
, add:
"editor.formatOnSave": true
This works only if:
- A default formatter is set
- The formatter supports the current file type
- The file isn't ignored in the formatter's config (like
.prettierrc
or.eslintignore
)
If you want more control, you can enable format on paste or format on type:
"editor.formatOnPaste": true, "editor.formatOnType": true
But be aware: these can sometimes interfere with typing speed or clipboard content, especially in large files.
That's basically how you set up a default formatter in VSCode. It's not complicated, but getting everything aligned between your installed tools, settings, and file types make a big difference in day-to-day coding.
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