Automatic Suggestions Not Working in VS Code? Fix It Fast

There’s nothing more frustrating than typing away in Visual Studio Code (VS Code), only to realize that your automatic code suggestions have suddenly stopped working. Whether you’re coding in JavaScript, Python, or any other language, auto-suggestions (also known as IntelliSense) are incredibly helpful for speeding up development and avoiding simple mistakes. If you’ve found yourself in this all-too-common situation, don’t worry—you’re not alone, and you’re certainly not without solutions.

TL;DR

If auto-suggestions or IntelliSense stop working in VS Code, the issue could stem from misconfigured settings, conflicting extensions, outdated software, or corrupted cache files. Start with basic fixes like restarting VS Code and checking your settings. If that doesn’t work, explore potential conflicts, clear the cache, and verify that your language server is running correctly. Follow this guide step-by-step to identify and resolve the problem quickly.

What Is IntelliSense and Why It Matters

IntelliSense is VS Code’s mechanism for providing automatic code suggestions, parameter hints, and method definitions while you type. It helps improve code accuracy, maintain readability, and cut down on development time. When it stops working, debugging code becomes far more tedious, which is why resolving this issue fast is crucial.

Common Causes for Auto-Suggestions Failure

Before diving into fixes, it’s useful to understand the likely reasons IntelliSense may no longer be functioning as expected:

Incorrect user or workspace settings
Conflicts caused by extensions
Corrupt cache or workspace data
Outdated VS Code or extensions
No proper language support extension installed
Disabled language server or misconfigured environment

Let’s walk through a set of practical solutions that will help you bring back your beloved IntelliSense.

1. Restart VS Code

The classic “turn it off and back on again” solution often does wonders in the developer world. Restarting VS Code can flush out temporary bugs or conflicts that stop suggestions from rendering. It’s a simple first step that’s worthwhile before diving deeper.

2. Check Your Settings File

Sometimes IntelliSense can be turned off by accident through the settings.json file. Here’s how to verify and correct that:

Open the Command Palette with Ctrl + Shift + P (or Cmd + Shift + P for Mac).
Type Preferences: Open Settings (JSON).

Look for the following lines and ensure their value is correctly set:

"editor.quickSuggestions": {
  "other": true,
  "comments": false,
  "strings": true
},
"editor.suggestOnTriggerCharacters": true,
"editor.suggest.showWords": true

If any of these are set to false accidentally, IntelliSense might not activate.

3. Verify Language Support Is Installed

If you’re working on a file with an uncommon extension or language support you’re assuming is enabled by default, think again. VS Code doesn’t come with full language support out of the box. Ensure you have the correct extension installed (e.g., Python, JavaScript, Go) from the Extensions Marketplace.

4. Look For Extension Conflicts

Extensions are one of VS Code’s strengths—but too many plugins can lead to compatibility issues, especially those that also affect code suggestions.

Here’s how to handle it:

Disable extensions one by one by navigating to the Extensions tab Ctrl + Shift + X.
After disabling each one, restart VS Code and see if IntelliSense resumes.
Pay special attention to language-related or autocomplete-assisting extensions like TabNine, Kite, or custom linters.

Once you’ve isolated the culprit, consider filing a compatibility issue or searching for updated or alternative extensions.

5. Clear the IntelliSense Cache

Sometimes, stale cache or corrupted data prevents IntelliSense from updating. You can reset VS Code’s internal cache by clearing workspace storage:

Open the Command Palette.
Search for Developer: Reload Window.
Alternatively, close VS Code and manually delete the .vscode folder in your project directory (only if safe to do so).

This will refresh the project’s environment and help jumpstart IntelliSense.

6. Check If the Language Server Is Running

Many advanced features of IntelliSense rely on language servers (e.g., Pyright or Pylance for Python, tsserver for TypeScript). If the language server fails or fails to start, auto-suggestions may not appear:

Make sure there are no red underline warnings in the output log.
Open the output panel with Ctrl + Shift + U, then switch to the relevant Language Server output (e.g., TypeScript or Python).
Search for error logs or failed initialization messages.

If you find errors, consider reinstalling the relevant extension or checking documentation for troubleshooting guidance.

7. Update VS Code and Extensions

Often, bugs that cause IntelliSense failures are fixed in later versions of VS Code or its extensions. Here’s what you can do:

Go to Help → Check for Updates.
Update any pending extensions in the Extensions tab.

Don’t skip this step if you’re running an older version, especially when using newer language libraries or frameworks that previous IntelliSense engines might not fully comprehend.

8. Reopen the Folder Properly

If your project folder isn’t opened correctly, VS Code might not activate its full workspace settings, including language features:

Close VS Code completely.
Reopen it using File → Open Folder instead of opening individual files.

This helps VS Code identify the project root and activates any .vscode configuration, environment settings, and language server context.

9. Reinstall Visual Studio Code (As a Last Resort)

If all else fails, the problem may lie in a corrupted installation. Removing and reinstalling VS Code afresh can often be the nuclear option that just works.

Steps to clean reinstall:

Uninstall VS Code fully from your operating system.
Delete the .vscode folders in:
- Local AppData for Windows
- ~/.vscode for macOS and Linux
Download and install the latest version from the official VS Code site.

Pro Tips For Keeping IntelliSense Working

After you’ve got everything working again, follow these best practices to avoid issues in the future:

Keep VS Code up to date with automatic updates on.
Limit conflicting extensions and uninstall ones you don’t regularly use.
Regularly clear temporary or workspace cache if you switch between projects often.
Stick to actively maintained extensions with high user ratings and frequent updates.

Conclusion

Auto-suggestions not working in VS Code can interrupt your workflow, but the fix is often simpler than expected. By methodically investigating your settings, extensions, and environment, you’ll likely uncover the cause without too much downtime. Whether it’s a minor toggle you overlooked or a deeper language server issue, follow these steps and you’ll have IntelliSense back up and running in no time.

Happy coding!