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IntelliSense not working in VS Code [Fix]

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If IntelliSense isn’t working in VS Code on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer, this post offers solutions you can apply to resolve the issue.

IntelliSense not working in VS Code

IntelliSense not working in VS Code

If IntelliSense or Autocomplete has stopped working, the language service may not be running on your Windows 11/10 computer. Try the following suggestions in the order below to resolve the issue.

  1. Install Extension
  2. Restart VS Code
  3. Update VS Code
  4. Use Up and Down Arrow Keys
  5. Reinstall VS Code

Let’s see the aforementioned suggestions in detail.

1] Install Extension

Java Extension Pack

VS Code ships with a bunch of auto-complete features for common keywords in some programming languages. For more auto-complete features and a rich experience, you will have to install an extension specifically for that language.

Do the following:

  • Open up VS Code.
  • Go to Extensions Panel (Ctrl+Shift+X).
  • Search for ‘Intellisense + [Name of language]’. For example, ‘Intellisense Python’.
  • This will show up a complete list of extensions available in the marketplace for the programming language you searched for.
  • Choose the one you liked the most, and click on install.
  • This will install the extension, and whenever you will work on that specific programming language you will be able to use it’s features.

Keep in mind that a particular language extension may not support all the VS Code IntelliSense features. You can review the extension’s README to find out what is supported. If you think there are issues with a language extension, or you are still missing IntelliSense features after installing one, open an issue in the extension’s repository.

Read: Best C++ Extensions for Visual Studio Code

2] Restart VS Code

If IntelliSense is not working as it should on your Windows 11/10 PC, you can try restarting VS Code and this should solve the issue. Restarting the program can be really effective and time-saving in some cases. If the issue persists, try restarting your computer.

3] Update VS Code

In some cases, you may encounter this issue after you update VS Code. However, if this isn’t the case for you, we suggest updating VS Code and see if that helps. To perform this task, do the following:

  • Open up VS Code.
  • Click on the settings icon (gear icon) at the bottom left.
  • Then, select Check for updates.

This will check for updates, tell you if any new updates are available, and download and install the latest bits for you. After it installs, you will need to restart VS Code.

This method is usually effective, as with all software running on your system, if you are facing issues like bugs or errors. Updating your software regularly helps keep your PC, software, and overall user experience secure, and it can also fix issues, bugs and serious errors in the software.

Read: Visual Studio 2022 is now generally available

4] Use Up and Down Arrow Keys

If you only see one line of suggestions when typing in the suggestion box, it can be caused by a variety of reasons, but it is a simple issue to fix. In some of the latest updates, many affected users reported that only one line appears as a suggestion. However, you can also use the up and down arrow keys to select other suggestions.

Use the up and down arrow keys to select the one you want, then click Enter to add it. To see all suggestions at once, move the mouse to the bottom of the box. Once your mouse pointer turns into an expand pointer, hold it down from the bottom and drag below to see all other suggestions.

5] Reinstall VS Code

Install VS Code

As a last resort, if all the suggestions above didn’t work for you, re-installing the VS Code program is the most logical step which you can take towards solving the VS Code IntelliSense problem on your Windows 11/10 computer.

Hope this helps!

Read: How to disable VS Code Auto Update

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Why is VS Code suggestions not working?

If you’re coding in JavaScript or TypeScript and VS Code IntelliSense works but doesn’t behave properly, you’ve likely selected the wrong language mode. TypeScript and JavaScript share the same language service, so you need to select the right language.

How do I fix VS Code IntelliSense?

Here are general solutions you can use to fix IntelliSense issues in Visual Studio Code.

  • Use Keyboard Help.
  • Check Settings.
  • Restart VSCode.
  • Update VSCode.
  • Select Correct programming Language Mode.
  • Updates Old Language Extension.
  • Reload the Extension.
  • Reinstalling VSCode.

How does IntelliSense work in Visual Studio?

It works by recording text input and interpreting it using a syntax file. If IntelliSense in Visual Studio stopped working, the issue could be related to NuGet. To resolve it, delete the contents of the packages folder. Close all instances of Visual Studio. Delete the contents of the packages folder at the root of your local machine.

Obinna@TWC

Obinna has completed B.Tech in Information & Communication Technology. He has worked as a System Support Engineer, primarily on User Endpoint Administration, as well as a Technical Analyst, primarily on Server/System Administration. He also has experience as a Network and Communications Officer. He has been a Windows Insider MVP (2020) and currently owns and runs a Computer Clinic.