With the extension Prettier-Code Formatter installed, set "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode" in User Settings.json. Reload the window, then open command palette, choose format document with, you would see prettier there. Try this and see if it solves your question. Answer from Molly_Wang on reddit.com
GitHub
github.com › prettier › prettier-vscode › issues › 1892
Value is not accepted in VSCode settings · Issue #1892 · prettier/prettier-vscode
January 10, 2021 - setup defaultFormatter in settings ("editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode")
Author dmatis2
Reddit
reddit.com › r/vscode › why my vs code pettier not working ?
r/vscode on Reddit: Why my VS code pettier not working ?
March 13, 2021 -
I have been searching google for several hours.
Many user have similar problem with me. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/52586965/why-does-prettier-does-not-format-code-in-vs-code/64273353#64273353
But none of the solution works for me.
https://imgur.com/2ssn1Vt
I have prettier installed. And I have tried the following
1.Command + Shift + p
2.type format document with
3.select Configure Default Formatter...
https://imgur.com/xw5oYvS
Then I cant select Prettier as default.
I only give me Python(default) as the only option.
I have a setting.json inside my root. Is it related?
https://imgur.com/KbEdsOV
Top answer 1 of 2
2
With the extension Prettier-Code Formatter installed, set "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode" in User Settings.json. Reload the window, then open command palette, choose format document with, you would see prettier there. Try this and see if it solves your question.
2 of 2
1
I am having the very same issue. On one of my machines, Prettier doesn't even appear in the status bar and I keep getting an error saying, "Extension 'Prettier - Code fromatter' cannot format 'src\index.js'" I tried what u/Molly_Wang suggested but no luck. I have had it working before and it works fine on my other machine. Unfortunately, there are also no debug messages of any sort, so I can't figure out what the problem is. I made sure to try with a file that doesn't contain errors preventing formatting.
Prettier does not work as default formatter in VS Code 1.57.1 on Windows.
Summary I have the Prettier extension installed, have the prettier npm package installed globally and in this project. It seems as though the Prettier extension is not starting and is missing in th... More on github.com
19
VS-Code Prettier Format On Save doesn't work - Stack Overflow
For about a month now, my Prettier extension has stopped working as it normally does. Most notably - format on save does not work. Other notes: Format on typing a ; works I get this error type sym... More on stackoverflow.com
Prettier VSCode Not Consistent With CLI
Discussed in #3227 Originally posted by MarvNC December 14, 2023 I am using CLI 3.1.1 installed with npm globally. Meanwhile, my Prettier VSCode extension is v10.1.0. I'd been mildly annoyed fo... More on github.com
16
Prettier extension not formatting code on file save - Stack Overflow
I have installed prettier extension for VS Code, set it as default formatter, also set format on save to true in VS Code's settings file, and files are set to be saved automatically after some time... More on stackoverflow.com
Videos
02:11
How to use Prettier in VS Code - Code Formatting - YouTube
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Install Prettier on VSCode | Set Up and configure Prettier - ...
00:47
How to fix Prettier Extension in VS Code - YouTube
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Code Formatting Extensions in VSCode - YouTube
05:07
Code Formatting with Prettier in Visual Studio Code - YouTube
04:00
How to Setup VS Code + Prettier + ESLint - YouTube
Top answer 1 of 16
1399
- Select
File -> Preferences -> Settings(Ctrl+comma) and search formformatter - Set Prettiers as Default formatter.
If above does not work:
ctrl+shift+p > Format Document With... > Configure Default Formatter... > Prettier - Code formatter
This also work with ctrl+shift+I
2 of 16
565
If doing what @Simin Maleki mentioned does not solve it for you, there is a chance that your default formatter is not set:
File > Preferences > Settings > Search for "default formatter"
Make sure your Editor: Default Formatter field is not null but rather Prettier - Code formatter (esbenp.prettier-vscode) and that all the languages below are ticked. This fixed my issue.
STEP BY STEP WALKTHROUGH
Also make sure that your format on save is enabled:
Visual Studio Marketplace
marketplace.visualstudio.com › items
Prettier - Code formatter - Visual Studio Marketplace
January 21, 2026 - Extension for Visual Studio Code - Code formatter using prettier
GitHub
github.com › prettier › prettier-vscode › issues › 2047
Prettier does not work as default formatter in VS Code 1.57.1 on Windows. · Issue #2047 · prettier/prettier-vscode
June 29, 2021 - { "editor.formatOnPaste": true, "editor.formatOnSave": true, "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode" } Manually formatting doesn't work either. Running prettier in the command line does correctly format the file. Short summary of what is going on or to provide context.
Author KerimG
DEV Community
dev.to › dmytrych › fixing-prettier-not-working-with-vscode-44ml
Fixing Prettier not working with VSCode - DEV Community
June 9, 2023 - Prettier can be configured to disable parsing for certain file types - so check that the required files are not included in the prettier-ignore file. Also, check that your file extension is spelled correctly.
Top answer 1 of 16
422
Follow these steps:
- CTRL + SHIFT + P
- Format Document (in pop-up bar)
- Select
Format Document - Select
Configure Default Formatter... - Select
Prettier - Code formatter
Done!
2 of 16
89
In VSCode settings, search for "Editor: Default Formatter", set it to esbenp.prettier-vscode and restart VSCode.
GitHub
github.com › prettier › prettier-vscode › issues › 3431
Prettier VSCode Not Consistent With CLI · Issue #3431 · prettier/prettier-vscode
June 17, 2024 - .prettierrc or .editorconfig), VS Code configuration will not be used ["INFO" - 3:21:31 PM] Prettier Options: { "filepath": "h:\\code\\yomitan-dict-stats\\readme.md", "parser": "markdown", "singleQuote": true, "proseWrap": "never" } ["INFO" - 3:21:31 PM] Formatting completed in 199ms.
Author hamirmahal
GitHub
github.com › prettier › prettier-vscode › issues › 3438
`esbenp.prettier-vscode` isn't consistent with `prettier` in `package.json` · Issue #3438 · prettier/prettier-vscode
June 19, 2024 - esbenp.prettier-vscode doesn't format *.config.ts and test/ui/**.spec.ts files, but the prettier in package.json expects them to be.
Author hamirmahal
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › how-to-use-prettier-in-visual-studio-code
How To Use Prettier in Visual Studio Code
March 18, 2024 - In this guide, you will learn how to install Prettier in Visual Studio Code and how to use it to format code.
MangoHost
mangohost.net › mangohost blog › format code with prettier in visual studio code
Format Code with Prettier in Visual Studio Code
August 3, 2025 - Check default formatter: Ensure editor.defaultFormatter is set to esbenp.prettier-vscode · Validate configuration: Use online Prettier playground to test your .prettierrc syntax · Clear VS Code cache: Restart VS Code or reload the window ...
Oreate AI
oreateai.com › blog › taming-your-code-a-friendly-guide-to-running-prettier-in-vs-code › 62c08a603ea49b9e6f9c5abe20eecf8d
Taming Your Code: A Friendly Guide to Running Prettier in VS Code - Oreate AI Blog
January 28, 2026 - The easiest way is to open your settings.json file (you can search for it after pressing Cmd+, or Ctrl+,). Once there, you'll want to add a line that points VS Code to the Prettier extension. If you've installed the popular esbenp.prettier-vscode extension, you'll add this:
HumanKode
humankode.com › javascript › set-up-prettier-and-vs-code-to-format-your-code
Set up Prettier and VS Code to Format Your Code
March 28, 2025 - { "editor.formatOnSave": true, "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode" } Reload VS Code by entering the keyboard shortcut CMD + Shift + P on Mac or Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows, then type in reload, and select Developer: Reload Window.
DigitalOcean
digitalocean.com › community › tutorials › how-to-format-code-with-prettier-in-visual-studio-code
Format Code with Prettier in Visual Studio Code: Setup Guide | DigitalOcean
August 1, 2025 - Note: If you do not see a prompt for selecting a default formatter, you can manually set Prettier as the default formatter in VS Code. Open your Settings and set Editor: Default Formatter to esbenp.prettier-vscode.
GitHub
github.com › prettier › prettier-vscode › releases
Releases · prettier/prettier-vscode
Add test for .prettierrc with string reference to ESM config package by @Copilot in #3868
Author prettier
Tomasz Tarnowski
blog.tomasztarnowski.com › automatic-code-formatting-with-visual-studio-code-and-prettier
Automatic Code Formatting with Visual Studio Code and Prettier
October 14, 2021 - you can use the tabs right below the search box to switch between user and workspace settings depending on whether you want to use Prettier globally (user) or only with the opened project (workspace). You can now open a JavaScript/TypeScript file from your project and see it in action: If it doesn't work straight away you may need to restart your VSCode for the changes to propagate.
DEV Community
dev.to › receter › how-to-install-prettier-in-your-codebase-and-vscode-4c19
How to Install Prettier in Your Codebase and VSCode - DEV Community
August 14, 2024 - Having done that you can navigate to the VSCode settings and search for "formatter". Here you could set Default Formatter to esbenp.prettier-vscode.
userwei's Note
note.userwei.com › docs › setup › tool › vscode › extension › prettier
Prettier | userwei's Note
Prettier # Install the Prettier - Code formatter extension in Visual Studio Code Add configuration in Visual Studio Code settings { "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode", "editor.formatOnSave": true }