Configuring Zed

Zed can be configured via a simple JSON file
Folder-specific settings
Folder-specific settings are used to override Zed's global settings for files within a specific directory in the project panel. To get started, create a .zed subdirectory and add a settings.json within it. It should be noted that folder-specific settings don't need to live only a project's root, but can be defined at multiple levels in the project hierarchy. In setups like this, Zed will find the configuration nearest to the file you are working in and apply those settings to it. In most cases, this level of flexibility won't be needed and a single configuration for all files in a project is all that is required; the Zed > Settings > Open Local Settings menu action is built for this case. Running this action will look for a .zed/settings.json file at the root of the first top-level directory in your project panel. If it does not exist, it will create it.
The following global settings can be overriden with a folder-specific configuration:
copilot
enable_language_server
ensure_final_newline_on_save
format_on_save
formatter
hard_tabs
language_overrides
preferred_line_length
remove_trailing_whitespace_on_save
soft_wrap
tab_size
show_copilot_suggestions
show_whitespaces
See the Global settings section for details about these settings
Global settings
To get started with editing Zed's global settings, open ~/.config/zed/settings.json via cmd-,, the command palette (zed: open settings), or the Zed > Settings > Open Settings application menu item.
Here are all the currently available settings.
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: active_pane_magnification
Default: 1.0
Options
float values
Autosave
Description: When to automatically save edited buffers.
Setting: autosave
Default: off
Options
1.To disable autosave, set it to off
{
  "autosave": "off"
}
2.To autosave when focus changes, use on_focus_change:
{
  "autosave": "on_focus_change"
}
3.To autosave when the active window changes, use on_window_change:
{
  "autosave": "on_window_change"
}
4.To autosave after an inactivity period, use after_delay:
{
  "autosave": {
    "after_delay": {
      "milliseconds": 1000
    }
  }
}
Auto Update
Description: Whether or not to automatically check for updates.
Setting: auto_update
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Buffer Font Family
Description: The name of a font to use for rendering text in the editor.
Setting: buffer_font_family
Default: Zed 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
Options
Zed supports a subset of OpenType features that can be enabled or disabled for a given buffer or terminal font. The following OpenType features can be enabled or disabled too: calt, case, cpsp, frac, liga, onum, ordn, pnum, ss01, ss02, ss03, ss04, ss05, ss06, ss07, ss08, ss09, ss10, ss11, ss12, ss13, ss14, ss15, ss16, ss17, ss18, ss19, ss20, subs, sups, swsh, titl, tnum, zero.
For example, to disable ligatures for a given font you can add the following to your settings:
{
  "buffer_font_features": {
    "calt": false
  }
}
Buffer Font Size
Description: The default font size for text in the editor.
Setting: buffer_font_size
Default: 15
Options
integer values
Confirm Quit
Description: Whether or not to prompt the user to confirm before closing the application.
Setting: confirm_quit
Default: false
Options
boolean values
Copilot
Description: Copilot-specific settings.
Setting: copilot
Default:
"copilot": {
  "disabled_globs": [
    ".env"
  ]
}
Options
Disabled Globs
Description: The set of glob patterns for which Copilot should be disabled in any matching file.
Setting: disabled_globs
Default: [".env"]
Options
List of string values
Cursor Blink
Description: Whether or not the cursor blinks.
Setting: cursor_blink
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Default Dock Anchor
Description: The default anchor for new docks.
Setting: default_dock_anchor
Default: bottom
Options
1.Position the dock attached to the bottom of the workspace: bottom
2.Position the dock to the right of the workspace like a side panel: right
3.Position the dock full screen over the entire workspace: expanded
Enable Language Server
Description: Whether or not to use language servers to provide code intelligence.
Setting: enable_language_server
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Ensure Final Newline On Save
Description: Whether or not to ensure there's a single newline at the end of a buffer when saving it.
Setting: ensure_final_newline_on_save
Default: true
Options
boolean values
LSP
Description: Configuration for language servers.
Setting: lsp
Default: null
Options
The following settings can be overridden for specific language servers:
initialization_options
To override settings for a language, add an entry for that language server's name to the lsp value. Example:
"lsp": {
  "rust-analyzer": {
    "initialization_options": {
      "checkOnSave": {
        "command": "clippy" // rust-analyzer.checkOnSave.command
      }
    }
  }
}
Format On Save
Description: Whether or not to perform a buffer format before saving.
Setting: format_on_save
Default: on
Options
1.on, enables format on save obeying formatter setting:
{
  "format_on_save": "on"
}
2.off, disables format on save:
{
  "format_on_save": "off"
}
Formatter
Description: How to perform a buffer format.
Setting: formatter
Default: language_server
Options
1.To use the current language server, use "language_server":
{
  "formatter": "language_server"
}
2.Or to use an external command, use "external". Specify the name of the formatting program to run, and an array of arguments to pass to the program. The buffer's text will be passed to the program on stdin, and the formatted output should be written to stdout. For example, the following command would strip trailing spaces using sed(1):
{
  "formatter": {
    "external": {
      "command": "sed",
      "arguments": ["-e", "s/ *$//"]
    }
  }
}
Git
Description: Configuration for git-related features.
Setting: git
Default:
"git": {
  "git_gutter": "tracked_files"
},
Git Gutter
Description: Whether or not to show the git gutter.
Setting: git_gutter
Default: tracked_files
Options
1.Show git gutter in tracked files
{
  "git_gutter": "tracked_files"
}
2.Hide git gutter
{
  "git_gutter": "hide"
}
Hard Tabs
Description: Whether to indent lines using tab characters or multiple spaces.
Setting: hard_tabs
Default: false
Options
boolean values
Hover Popover Enabled
Description: Whether or not to show the informational hover box when moving the mouse over symbols in the editor.
Setting: hover_popover_enabled
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Inlay hints
Description: Configuration for displaying extra text with hints in the editor.
Setting: inlay_hints
Default:
"inlay_hints": {
  "enabled": false,
  "show_type_hints": true,
  "show_parameter_hints": true,
  "show_other_hints": true
}
Options
Inlay hints querying consists of two parts: editor (client) and LSP server. With the inlay settings above are changed to enable the hints, editor will start to query certain types of hints and react on LSP hint refresh request from the server. At this point, the server may or may not return hints depending on its implementation, further configuration might be needed, refer to the corresponding LSP server documentation.
Use lsp section for the server configuration, below are some examples for well known servers:
Rust
"lsp": {
  "rust-analyzer": {
    "initialization_options": {
      "inlayHints": {
        "maxLength": null,
        "lifetimeElisionHints": {
          "useParameterNames": true,
          "enable": "skip_trivial"
        },
        "closureReturnTypeHints": {
          "enable": "always"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
Typescript
"lsp": {
  "typescript-language-server": {
    "initialization_options": {
      "preferences": {
        "includeInlayParameterNameHints": "all",
        "includeInlayParameterNameHintsWhenArgumentMatchesName": true,
        "includeInlayFunctionParameterTypeHints": true,
        "includeInlayVariableTypeHints": true,
        "includeInlayVariableTypeHintsWhenTypeMatchesName": false,
        "includeInlayPropertyDeclarationTypeHints": true,
        "includeInlayFunctionLikeReturnTypeHints": true,
        "includeInlayEnumMemberValueHints": true
      }
    }
  }
}
Go
"lsp": {
  "gopls": {
    "initialization_options": {
      "hints": {
        "assignVariableTypes": true,
        "compositeLiteralFields": true,
        "compositeLiteralTypes": true,
        "constantValues": true,
        "functionTypeParameters": true,
        "parameterNames": true,
        "rangeVariableTypes": true
      }
    }
  }
}
Journal
Description: Configuration for the journal.
Setting: journal
Default:
"journal": {
  "path": "~",
  "hour_format": "hour12"
}
Path
Description: The path of the directory where journal entries are stored.
Setting: path
Default: ~
Options
string values
Hour Format
Description: The format to use for displaying hours in the journal.
Setting: hour_format
Default: hour12
Options
1.12-hour format:
{
  "hour_format": "hour12"
}
2.24-hour format:
{
  "hour_format": "hour24"
}
Language Overrides
Description: Configuration overrides for specific languages.
Setting: language_overrides
Default: null
Options
To override settings for a language, add an entry for that languages name to the language_overrides value. Example:
"language_overrides": {
  "C": {
    "format_on_save": "off",
    "preferred_line_length": 64,
    "soft_wrap": "preferred_line_length"
  },
  "JSON": {
    "tab_size": 4
  }
}
The following settings can be overridden for each specific language:
enable_language_server
ensure_final_newline_on_save
format_on_save
formatter
hard_tabs
preferred_line_length
remove_trailing_whitespace_on_save
show_copilot_suggestions
show_whitespaces
soft_wrap
tab_size
These values take in the same options as the root-level settings with the same name.
Preferred Line Length
Description: The column at which to soft-wrap lines, for buffers where soft-wrap is enabled.
Setting: preferred_line_length
Default: 80
Options
integer values
Projects Online By Default
Description: Whether or not to show the online projects view by default.
Setting: projects_online_by_default
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Remove Trailing Whitespace On Save
Description: Whether or not to remove any trailing whitespace from lines of a buffer before saving it.
Setting: remove_trailing_whitespace_on_save
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Semantic Index
Description: Settings related to semantic index.
Setting: semantic_index
Default:
"semantic_index": {
  "enabled": false
},
Enabled
Description: Whether or not to display the Semantic mode in project search.
Setting: enabled
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Show Call Status Icon
Description: Whether or not to show the call status icon in the status bar.
Setting: show_call_status_icon
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Show Completions On Input
Description: Whether or not to show completions as you type.
Setting: show_completions_on_input
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Show Copilot Suggestions
Description: Whether or not to show Copilot suggestions as you type or wait for a copilot::Toggle.
Setting: show_copilot_suggestions
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Show Whitespaces
Description: Whether or not to show render whitespace characters in the editor.
Setting: show_whitespaces
Default: selection
Options
1.all
2.selection
3.none
Soft Wrap
Description: Whether or not to automatically wrap lines of text to fit editor / preferred width.
Setting: soft_wrap
Default: none
Options
1.editor_width
2.preferred_line_length
3.none
Tab Size
Description: The number of spaces to use for each tab character.
Setting: tab_size
Default: 4
Options
integer values
Telemetry
Description: Control what info is collected by Zed.
Setting: telemetry
Default:
"telemetry": {
  "diagnostics": true,
  "metrics": true
},
Options
Diagnostics
Description: Setting for sending debug-related data, such as crash reports.
Setting: diagnostics
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Metrics
Description: Setting for sending anonymized usage data, such what languages you're using Zed with.
Setting: metrics
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Terminal
Description: Configuration for the terminal.
Setting: terminal
Default:
"terminal": {
  "alternate_scroll": "off",
  "blinking": "terminal_controlled",
  "copy_on_select": false,
  "env": {},
  "font_family": null,
  "font_features": null,
  "font_size": null,
  "option_as_meta": false,
  "shell": {},
  "working_directory": "current_project_directory"
}
Alternate Scroll
Description: Set whether Alternate Scroll mode (DECSET code: ?1007) is active by default. Alternate Scroll mode converts mouse scroll events into up / down key presses when in the alternate screen (e.g. when running applications like vim or less). The terminal can still set and unset this mode with ANSI escape codes.
Setting: alternate_scroll
Default: off
Options
1.Default alternate scroll mode to on
{
  "alternate_scroll": "on"
}
2.Default alternate scroll mode to off
{
  "alternate_scroll": "off"
}
Blinking
Description: Set the cursor blinking behavior in the terminal
Setting: blinking
Default: terminal_controlled
Options
1.Never blink the cursor, ignore the terminal mode
{
  "blinking": "off"
}
2.Default the cursor blink to off, but allow the terminal to turn blinking on
{
  "blinking": "terminal_controlled"
}
3.Always blink the cursor, ignore the terminal mode
"blinking": "on",
Copy On Select
Description: Whether or not selecting text in the terminal will automatically copy to the system clipboard.
Setting: copy_on_select
Default: false
Options
boolean values
Env
Description: Any key-value pairs added to this object will be added to the terminal's environment. Keys must be unique, use : to separate multiple values in a single variable
Setting: env
Default: {}
Example
"env": {
  "ZED": "1",
  "KEY": "value1:value2"
}
Font Size
Description: What font size to use for the terminal. When not set defaults to matching the editor's font size
Setting: font_size
Default: null
Options
integer values
Font Family
Description: What font to use for the terminal. When not set, defaults to matching the editor's font.
Setting: font_family
Default: null
Options
The name of any font family installed on the user's system
Font Features
Description: What font features to use for the terminal. When not set, defaults to matching the editor's font features.
Setting: font_features
Default: null
Options
See Buffer Font Features
Option As Meta
Description: Re-interprets the option keys to act like a 'meta' key, like in Emacs.
Setting: option_as_meta
Default: true
Options
boolean values
Shell
Description: What shell to use when launching the terminal.
Setting: shell
Default: system
Options
1.Use the system's default terminal configuration (usually the /etc/passwd file).
{
  "shell": "system"
}
2.A program to launch:
"shell": {
    "program": "sh"
}
3.A program with arguments:
"shell": {
  "with_arguments": {
    "program": "/bin/bash",
    "args": ["--login"]
  }
}
Working Directory
Description: What working directory to use when launching the terminal.
Setting: working_directory
Default: "current_project_directory"
Options
1.Use the current file's project directory. Will Fallback to the first project directory strategy if unsuccessful
{
  "working_directory": "current_project_directory"
}
2.Use the first project in this workspace's directory. Will fallback to using this platform's home directory.
{
  "working_directory": "first_project_directory"
}
3.Always use this platform's home directory (if we can find it)
{
  "working_directory": "always_home"
}
4.Always use a specific directory. This value will be shell expanded. If this path is not a valid directory the terminal will default to this platform's home directory.
"working_directory": {
  "always": {
    "directory": "~/zed/projects/"
  }
}
Theme
Description: The name of the Zed theme to use for the UI.
Setting: theme
Default: One Dark
Options
Run the theme selector: toggle action in the command palette to see a current list of valid themes names.
Vim
Description: Whether or not to enable vim mode (work in progress).
Setting: vim_mode
Default: false
Project Panel
Description: Customise project panel
Setting: project_panel
Default:
"project_panel": {
  "dock": "left",
  "git_status": true,
  "default_width"