Broken Syntax Highlighting after Reinstalling Windows in VSCode: A Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing the Issue

If you’ve recently reinstalled Windows and found that your VSCode syntax highlighting has gone haywire, don’t panic! You’re not alone, and more importantly, you’re in the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the troubleshooting process to get your syntax highlighting back up and running in no time.

Before We Dive In…

Before we begin, make sure you’ve reinstalled VSCode after reinstalling Windows. If you haven’t, do so now. Also, ensure you’ve updated VSCode to the latest version. This will ensure we’re on the same page, and the fixes will work as intended.

Step 1: Check for Extensions

Extensions can sometimes interfere with syntax highlighting. Let’s start by checking if any extensions are causing the issue:

1. Open VSCode and click on the Extensions icon in the left sidebar or press Ctrl + Shift + X.
2. Scroll through the list of installed extensions and look for any extensions related to syntax highlighting, such as “Syntax Highlight” or “Language Support”.
3. Disable each extension one by one and check if syntax highlighting starts working again.
4. If disabling an extension resolves the issue, it’s likely that extension was causing the problem.

Step 2: Check the Language Configuration

Syntax highlighting is language-specific, so let’s ensure the language configuration is correct:

1. Open the Command Palette in VSCode by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P.
2. Type “Configure Language” in the Command Palette and select “Preferences: Configure Language Specific Settings”.
3. In the language configuration file, check if the syntax highlighting is enabled for the language you’re working with.
4. For example, if you’re working with JavaScript, ensure the following settings are present:

   "[javascript]": {
     "editor.defaultFormatter": "vscode.typescript-language-server",
     "editor.formatOnSave": true
   }
   

Step 3: Check the User Settings

Now, let’s check the user settings to see if there are any overriding configurations:

1. Open the Command Palette in VSCode by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P.
2. Type “Open User Settings” in the Command Palette and select “Preferences: Open User Settings”.
3. In the user settings file, search for any syntax highlighting-related settings.
4. For example, if you find a setting like this:

   "[javascript]": {
     "editor_syntax_highlighting": false
   }
   

5. Remove or update the setting to enable syntax highlighting.

Step 4: Check the Workspace Settings

Workspace settings can also override user settings. Let’s check the workspace settings:

1. Open the Command Palette in VSCode by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P.
2. Type “Open Workspace Settings” in the Command Palette and select “Preferences: Open Workspace Settings”.
3. In the workspace settings file, search for any syntax highlighting-related settings.
4. For example, if you find a setting like this:

   "[javascript]": {
     "editor_syntax_highlighting": false
   }
   

5. Remove or update the setting to enable syntax highlighting.

Step 5: Check for Corrupt Extensions

Corrupt extensions can cause issues with syntax highlighting. Let’s check for corrupt extensions:

1. Close VSCode.
2. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator.
3. Navigate to the VSCode extensions folder by running the following command:

   cd %USERPROFILE%\.vscode\extensions
   

4. Delete any suspicious or corrupted extensions.
5. Restart VSCode.

Step 6: Reset VSCode Settings

If all else fails, let’s reset VSCode settings to their default state:

1. Close VSCode.
2. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator.
3. Navigate to the VSCode settings folder by running the following command:

   cd %USERPROFILE%\.vscode
   

4. Delete the settings.json file.
5. Restart VSCode.

Conclusion

And that’s it! By following these steps, you should be able to fix broken syntax highlighting in VSCode after reinstalling Windows. Remember to check for extensions, language configuration, user settings, workspace settings, corrupt extensions, and reset VSCode settings if necessary. If you’re still facing issues, feel free to ask for help in the VSCode community or forums.

Troubleshooting Step	Potential Solution
Check for Extensions	Disable syntax highlighting-related extensions
Check the Language Configuration	Enable syntax highlighting for the language
Check the User Settings	Remove or update overriding syntax highlighting settings
Check the Workspace Settings	Remove or update overriding syntax highlighting settings
Check for Corrupt Extensions	Delete corrupt extensions and restart VSCode
Reset VSCode Settings	Reset VSCode settings to their default state

By following this comprehensive guide, you should be able to fix broken syntax highlighting in VSCode and get back to coding with ease. Happy coding!

Frequently Asked Question

Don’t let a fresh Windows install break your coding flow! We’ve got the answers to get your VSCode syntax highlighting back on track.