Configuring Zed
Zed is designed to be configured: we want to fit your workflow and preferences exactly. We provide default settings that are designed to be a comfortable starting point for as many people as possible, but we hope you will enjoy tweaking it to make it feel incredible.
In addition to the settings described here, you may also want to change your theme, configure your key bindings, set up tasks or install extensions.
Settings files
Your settings file can be opened with {#kb zed::OpenSettings}. By default it is located at ~/.config/zed/settings.json, though if you have XDG_CONFIG_HOME in your environment on Linux it will be at $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zed/settings.json instead.
This configuration is merged with any local configuration inside your projects. You can open the project settings by running {#action zed::OpenProjectSettings} from the command palette. This will create a .zed directory containing.zed/settings.json.
Although most projects will only need one settings file at the root, you can add more local settings files for subdirectories as needed. Not all settings can be set in local files, just those that impact the behavior of the editor and language tooling. For example you can set tab_size, formatter etc. but not theme, vim_mode and similar.
The syntax for configuration files is a super-set of JSON that allows // comments.
Default settings
You can find the default settings for your current Zed by running {#action zed::OpenDefaultSettings} from the command palette.
Extensions that provide language servers may also provide default settings for those language servers.
Settings
Active Pane Modifiers
Styling settings applied to the active pane.
Magnification
- Description: Scale by which to zoom the active pane. When set to
1.0, the active pane has the same size as others, but when set to a larger value, the active pane takes up more space. - Setting:
magnification - Default:
1.0
Border size
- Description: Size of the border surrounding the active pane. When set to 0, the active pane doesn't have any border. The border is drawn inset.
- Setting:
border_size - Default:
0.0
Inactive Opacity
- Description: Opacity of inactive panels. When set to 1.0, the inactive panes have the same opacity as the active one. If set to 0, the inactive panes content will not be visible at all. Values are clamped to the [0.0, 1.0] range.
- Setting:
inactive_opacity - Default:
1.0
Options
float values
Auto Install extensions
- Description: Define extensions to be autoinstalled or never be installed.
- Setting:
auto_install_extension - Default:
{"html": true}
Options
You can find the names of your currently installed extensions by listing the subfolders under the extension installation location:
On MacOS:
ls ~/Library/Application\ Support/Zed/extensions/installed/
On Linux:
ls ~/.local/share/zed/extensions/installed
Define extensions which should be installed (true) or never installed (false).
{
"auto_install_extensions": {
"html": true,
"dockerfile": true,
"docker-compose": false
}
}
Autosave
- Description: When to automatically save edited buffers.
- Setting:
autosave - Default:
off
Options
- To disable autosave, set it to
off:
{
"autosave": "off"
}
- To autosave when focus changes, use
on_focus_change:
{
"autosave": "on_focus_change"
}
- To autosave when the active window changes, use
on_window_change:
{
"autosave": "on_window_change"
}
- To autosave after an inactivity period, use
after_delay:
{
"autosave": {
"after_delay": {
"milliseconds": 1000
}
}
}
Restore on Startup
- Description: Controls session restoration on startup.
- Setting:
restore_on_startup - Default:
last_session
Options
- Restore all workspaces that were open when quitting Zed:
{
"restore_on_startup": "last_session"
}
- Restore the workspace that was closed last:
{
"restore_on_startup": "last_workspace"
}
- Always start with an empty editor:
{
"restore_on_startup": "none"
}
Autoscroll on Clicks
- Description: Whether to scroll when clicking near the edge of the visible text area.
- Setting:
autoscroll_on_clicks - Default:
false
Options
boolean values
Auto Update
- Description: Whether or not to automatically check for updates.
- Setting:
auto_update - Default:
true
Options
boolean values
Base Keymap
- Description: Base key bindings scheme. Base keymaps can be overridden with user keymaps.
- Setting:
base_keymap - Default:
VSCode
Options
- VSCode
{
"base_keymap": "VSCode"
}
- Atom
{
"base_keymap": "Atom"
}
- JetBrains
{
"base_keymap": "JetBrains"
}
- None
{
"base_keymap": "None"
}
- SublimeText
{
"base_keymap": "SublimeText"
}
- TextMate
{
"base_keymap": "TextMate"
}
Buffer Font Family
- Description: The name of a font to use for rendering text in the editor.
- Setting:
buffer_font_family - Default:
Zed Plex Mono
Options
The name of any font family installed on the user's system
Buffer Font Features
- Description: The OpenType features to enable for text in the editor.
- Setting:
buffer_font_features - Default:
null - Platform: macOS and Windows.
Options
Zed supports all OpenType features that can be enabled or disabled for a given buffer or terminal font, as well as setting values for font features.
For example, to disable font ligatures, add the following to your settings:
{
"buffer_font_features": {
"calt": false
}
}
You can also set other OpenType features, like setting cv01 to 7:
{
"buffer_font_features": {
"cv01": 7
}
}
Buffer Font Fallbacks
- Description: Set the buffer text's font fallbacks, this will be merged with the platform's default fallbacks.
- Setting:
buffer_font_fallbacks - Default:
null - Platform: macOS and Windows.
Options
For example, to use Nerd Font as a fallback, add the following to your settings:
{
"buffer_font_fallbacks": ["Nerd Font"]
}
Buffer Font Size
- Description: The default font size for text in the editor.
- Setting:
buffer_font_size - Default:
15
Options
integer values from 6 to 100 pixels (inclusive)
Buffer Font Weight
- Description: The default font weight for text in the editor.
- Setting:
buffer_font_weight - Default:
400
Options
integer values between 100 and 900
Buffer Line Height
- Description: The default line height for text in the editor.
- Setting:
buffer_line_height - Default:
"comfortable"
Options
"standard", "comfortable" or {"custom": float} (1 is very compact, 2 very loose)
Confirm Quit
- Description: Whether or not to prompt the user to confirm before closing the application.
- Setting:
confirm_quit - Default:
false
Options
boolean values
Centered Layout
- Description: Configuration for the centered layout mode.
- Setting:
centered_layout - Default:
"centered_layout": {
"left_padding": 0.2,
"right_padding": 0.2,
}
Options
The left_padding and right_padding options define the relative width of the
left and right padding of the central pane from the workspace when the centered layout mode is activated. Valid values range is from 0 to 0.4.
Direnv Integration
- Description: Settings for direnv integration. Requires
direnvto be installed.direnvintegration make it possible to use the environment variables set by adirenvconfiguration to detect some language servers in$PATHinstead of installing them. It also allows for those environment variables to be used in tasks. - Setting:
load_direnv - Default:
"load_direnv": "direct"
Options There are two options to choose from:
shell_hook: Use the shell hook to load direnv. This relies on direnv to activate upon entering the directory. Supports POSIX shells and fish.direct: Usedirenv export jsonto load direnv. This will load direnv directly without relying on the shell hook and might cause some inconsistencies. This allows direnv to work with any shell.
Edit Predictions
- Description: Settings for edit predictions.
- Setting:
edit_predictions - Default:
"edit_predictions": {
"disabled_globs": [
"**/.env*",
"**/*.pem",
"**/*.key",
"**/*.cert",
"**/*.crt",
"**/secrets.yml"
]
}
Options
Disabled Globs
- Description: A list of globs for which edit predictions should be disabled for. This list adds to a pre-existing, sensible default set of globs. Any additional ones you add are combined with them.
- Setting:
disabled_globs - Default:
["**/.env*", "**/*.pem", "**/*.key", "**/*.cert", "**/*.crt", "**/secrets.yml"]
Options
List of string values.
Edit Predictions Disabled in
- Description: A list of language scopes in which edit predictions should be disabled.
- Setting:
edit_predictions_disabled_in - Default:
[]
Options
List of string values
- Don't show edit predictions in comments:
"disabled_in": ["comment"]
- Don't show edit predictions in strings and comments:
"disabled_in": ["comment", "string"]
- Only in Go, don't show edit predictions in strings and comments:
{
"languages": {
"Go": {
"edit_predictions_disabled_in": ["comment", "string"]
}
}
}
Current Line Highlight
- Description: How to highlight the current line in the editor.
- Setting:
current_line_highlight - Default:
all
Options
- Don't highlight the current line:
"current_line_highlight": "none"
- Highlight the gutter area:
"current_line_highlight": "gutter"
- Highlight the editor area:
"current_line_highlight": "line"
- Highlight the full line:
"current_line_highlight": "all"
Selection Highlight
- Description: Whether to highlight all occurrences of the selected text in an editor.
- Setting:
selection_highlight - Default:
true
Selection Highlight Debounce
-
Description: The debounce delay before querying highlights based on the selected text.
-
Setting:
selection_highlight_debounce -
Default:
50
LSP Highlight Debounce
- Description: The debounce delay before querying highlights from the language server based on the current cursor location.
- Setting:
lsp_highlight_debounce - Default:
75
Cursor Blink
- Description: Whether or not the cursor blinks.
- Setting:
cursor_blink - Default:
true
Options
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# Configuring Zed Zed is designed to be configured: we want to fit your workflow and preferences exactly. We provide default settings that are designed to be a comfortable starting point for as many people as possible, but we hope you will enjoy tweaking it to make it feel incredible. In addition to the settings described here, you may also want to change your [theme](./themes.md), configure your [key bindings](./key-bindings.md), set up [tasks](./tasks.md) or install [extensions](https://github.com/zed-industries/extensions). ## Settings files <!-- TBD: Settings files. Rewrite with "remote settings" in mind (e.g. `local settings` on the remote host). Consider renaming `zed: Open Local Settings` to `zed: Open Project Settings`. TBD: Add settings documentation about how settings are merged as overlays. E.g. project>local>default. Note how settings that are maps are merged, but settings that are arrays are replaced and must include the defaults. --> Your settings file can be opened with {#kb zed::OpenSettings}. By default it is located at `~/.config/zed/settings.json`, though if you have XDG_CONFIG_HOME in your environment on Linux it will be at `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zed/settings.json` instead. This configuration is merged with any local configuration inside your projects. You can open the project settings by running {#action zed::OpenProjectSettings} from the command palette. This will create a `.zed` directory containing`.zed/settings.json`. Although most projects will only need one settings file at the root, you can add more local settings files for subdirectories as needed. Not all settings can be set in local files, just those that impact the behavior of the editor and language tooling. For example you can set `tab_size`, `formatter` etc. but not `theme`, `vim_mode` and similar. The syntax for configuration files is a super-set of JSON that allows `//` comments. ## Default settings You can find the default settings for your current Zed by running {#action zed::OpenDefaultSettings} from the command palette. Extensions that provide language servers may also provide default settings for those language servers. # Settings ## Active Pane Modifiers Styling settings applied to the active pane. ### Magnification - Description: Scale by which to zoom the active pane. When set to `1.0`, the active pane has the same size as others, but when set to a larger value, the active pane takes up more space. - Setting: `magnification` - Default: `1.0` ### Border size - Description: Size of the border surrounding the active pane. When set to 0, the active pane doesn't have any border. The border is drawn inset. - Setting: `border_size` - Default: `0.0` ### Inactive Opacity - Description: Opacity of inactive panels. When set to 1.0, the inactive panes have the same opacity as the active one. If set to 0, the inactive panes content will not be visible at all. Values are clamped to the [0.0, 1.0] range. - Setting: `inactive_opacity` - Default: `1.0` **Options** `float` values ## Auto Install extensions - Description: Define extensions to be autoinstalled or never be installed. - Setting: `auto_install_extension` - Default: `{"html": true}` **Options** You can find the names of your currently installed extensions by listing the subfolders under the [extension installation location](./extensions/installing-extensions#installation-location): On MacOS: ```sh ls ~/Library/Application\ Support/Zed/extensions/installed/ ``` On Linux: ```sh ls ~/.local/share/zed/extensions/installed ``` Define extensions which should be installed (`true`) or never installed (`false`). ```json { "auto_install_extensions": { "html": true, "dockerfile": true, "docker-compose": false } } ``` ## Autosave - Description: When to automatically save edited buffers. - Setting: `autosave` - Default: `off` **Options** 1. To disable autosave, set it to `off`: ```json { "autosave": "off" } ``` 2. To autosave when focus changes, use `on_focus_change`: ```json { "autosave": "on_focus_change" } ``` 3. To autosave when the active window changes, use `on_window_change`: ```json { "autosave": "on_window_change" } ``` 4. To autosave after an inactivity period, use `after_delay`: ```json { "autosave": { "after_delay": { "milliseconds": 1000 } } } ``` ## Restore on Startup - Description: Controls session restoration on startup. - Setting: `restore_on_startup` - Default: `last_session` **Options** 1. Restore all workspaces that were open when quitting Zed: ```json { "restore_on_startup": "last_session" } ``` 2. Restore the workspace that was closed last: ```json { "restore_on_startup": "last_workspace" } ``` 3. Always start with an empty editor: ```json { "restore_on_startup": "none" } ``` ## Autoscroll on Clicks - Description: Whether to scroll when clicking near the edge of the visible text area. - Setting: `autoscroll_on_clicks` - Default: `false` **Options** `boolean` values ## Auto Update - Description: Whether or not to automatically check for updates. - Setting: `auto_update` - Default: `true` **Options** `boolean` values ## Base Keymap - Description: Base key bindings scheme. Base keymaps can be overridden with user keymaps. - Setting: `base_keymap` - Default: `VSCode` **Options** 1. VSCode ```json { "base_keymap": "VSCode" } ``` 2. Atom ```json { "base_keymap": "Atom" } ``` 3. JetBrains ```json { "base_keymap": "JetBrains" } ``` 4. None ```json { "base_keymap": "None" } ``` 5. SublimeText ```json { "base_keymap": "SublimeText" } ``` 6. TextMate ```json { "base_keymap": "TextMate" } ``` ## Buffer Font Family - Description: The name of a font to use for rendering text in the editor. - Setting: `buffer_font_family` - Default: `Zed Plex Mono` **Options** The name of any font family installed on the user's system ## Buffer Font Features - Description: The OpenType features to enable for text in the editor. - Setting: `buffer_font_features` - Default: `null` - Platform: macOS and Windows. **Options** Zed supports all OpenType features that can be enabled or disabled for a given buffer or terminal font, as well as setting values for font features. For example, to disable font ligatures, add the following to your settings: ```json { "buffer_font_features": { "calt": false } } ``` You can also set other OpenType features, like setting `cv01` to `7`: ```json { "buffer_font_features": { "cv01": 7 } } ``` ## Buffer Font Fallbacks - Description: Set the buffer text's font fallbacks, this will be merged with the platform's default fallbacks. - Setting: `buffer_font_fallbacks` - Default: `null` - Platform: macOS and Windows. **Options** For example, to use `Nerd Font` as a fallback, add the following to your settings: ```json { "buffer_font_fallbacks": ["Nerd Font"] } ``` ## Buffer Font Size - Description: The default font size for text in the editor. - Setting: `buffer_font_size` - Default: `15` **Options** `integer` values from `6` to `100` pixels (inclusive) ## Buffer Font Weight - Description: The default font weight for text in the editor. - Setting: `buffer_font_weight` - Default: `400` **Options** `integer` values between `100` and `900` ## Buffer Line Height - Description: The default line height for text in the editor. - Setting: `buffer_line_height` - Default: `"comfortable"` **Options** `"standard"`, `"comfortable"` or `{"custom": float}` (`1` is very compact, `2` very loose) ## Confirm Quit - Description: Whether or not to prompt the user to confirm before closing the application. - Setting: `confirm_quit` - Default: `false` **Options** `boolean` values ## Centered Layout - Description: Configuration for the centered layout mode. - Setting: `centered_layout` - Default: ```json "centered_layout": { "left_padding": 0.2, "right_padding": 0.2, } ``` **Options** The `left_padding` and `right_padding` options define the relative width of the left and right padding of the central pane from the workspace when the centered layout mode is activated. Valid values range is from `0` to `0.4`. ## Direnv Integration - Description: Settings for [direnv](https://direnv.net/) integration. Requires `direnv` to be installed. `direnv` integration make it possible to use the environment variables set by a `direnv` configuration to detect some language servers in `$PATH` instead of installing them. It also allows for those environment variables to be used in tasks. - Setting: `load_direnv` - Default: ```json "load_direnv": "direct" ``` **Options** There are two options to choose from: 1. `shell_hook`: Use the shell hook to load direnv. This relies on direnv to activate upon entering the directory. Supports POSIX shells and fish. 2. `direct`: Use `direnv export json` to load direnv. This will load direnv directly without relying on the shell hook and might cause some inconsistencies. This allows direnv to work with any shell. ## Edit Predictions - Description: Settings for edit predictions. - Setting: `edit_predictions` - Default: ```json "edit_predictions": { "disabled_globs": [ "**/.env*", "**/*.pem", "**/*.key", "**/*.cert", "**/*.crt", "**/secrets.yml" ] } ``` **Options** ### Disabled Globs - Description: A list of globs for which edit predictions should be disabled for. This list adds to a pre-existing, sensible default set of globs. Any additional ones you add are combined with them. - Setting: `disabled_globs` - Default: `["**/.env*", "**/*.pem", "**/*.key", "**/*.cert", "**/*.crt", "**/secrets.yml"]` **Options** List of `string` values. ## Edit Predictions Disabled in - Description: A list of language scopes in which edit predictions should be disabled. - Setting: `edit_predictions_disabled_in` - Default: `[]` **Options** List of `string` values 1. Don't show edit predictions in comments: ```json "disabled_in": ["comment"] ``` 2. Don't show edit predictions in strings and comments: ```json "disabled_in": ["comment", "string"] ``` 3. Only in Go, don't show edit predictions in strings and comments: ```json { "languages": { "Go": { "edit_predictions_disabled_in": ["comment", "string"] } } } ``` ## Current Line Highlight - Description: How to highlight the current line in the editor. - Setting: `current_line_highlight` - Default: `all` **Options** 1. Don't highlight the current line: ```json "current_line_highlight": "none" ``` 2. Highlight the gutter area: ```json "current_line_highlight": "gutter" ``` 3. Highlight the editor area: ```json "current_line_highlight": "line" ``` 4. Highlight the full line: ```json "current_line_highlight": "all" ``` ## Selection Highlight - Description: Whether to highlight all occurrences of the selected text in an editor. - Setting: `selection_highlight` - Default: `true` ## Selection Highlight Debounce - Description: The debounce delay before querying highlights based on the selected text. - Setting: `selection_highlight_debounce` - Default: `50` ## LSP Highlight Debounce - Description: The debounce delay before querying highlights from the language server based on the current cursor location. - Setting: `lsp_highlight_debounce` - Default: `75` ## Cursor Blink - Description: Whether or not the cursor blinks. - Setting: `cursor_blink` - Default: `true` **Options**