python There is no formatter for 'python' files installed.

[ponponon]

The latest vscode causes python's formatting buttons to disappear, even though I have all the relevant python plugins and autopep8 installed!

[Gaotianhong]

the same question to you

[portrik]

The same has happened to me. None of the Python formatters, e.g. pylint or Ruff, are recognized as Python formatters.

The only change to my setup was the upgrade of VS Code. No extensions were added, removed or modified.

[ycrouin]

Same here. In the meantime, I downgraded the Python extension from v2023.20.0 to v2023.18.0 and it fixed the issue for me.

[tanzeyy]

Same here. In the meantime, I downgraded the Python extension from v2023.20.0 to v2023.18.0 and it fixed the issue for me.

Works for me, thanks!

[karthiknadig]

These features are moved to their own extensions. See here for more details:
https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/formatting#_choose-a-formatter

[portrik]

But none of those extensions are being detected as formatters by VS Code after upgrading to the latest Python extension version.

I have both Ruff and Pylint extensions installed. And I still get the message that I have no formatters installed.

[karthiknadig]

@portrik Pylint is not a formatter. Install "Black Formatter" extension, or "autopep8" extension. and set this in your settings:

"[python]": {
    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "ms-python.black-formatter"
}

If you want to use Ruff then you have to set:

"[python]": {
    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "charliermarsh.ruff"
}

If that is not working, then look the Output > Black Formatter or Output > Ruff for details on what went wrong.

[FPLIsLife]

But none of those extensions are being detected as formatters by VS Code after upgrading to the latest Python extension version.

I have both Ruff and Pylint extensions installed. And I still get the message that I have no formatters installed.

did you figure this out? i'm having the same issue - "There is no formatter for 'python' files installed."

[nahanoo]

Hi,

If you search for autopep8 and install this formatter it will work.

I think this was solved in a unfortunate way, because people who just had the Python extension installed, suddenly didn't have a working formatting function anymore because it was removed from the Python extension.
Furthermore, clicking "Install formatter" points you to the Python extension which is misleading.

[firstC99]

Also appearing simultaneously is "Connection to server got closed. Server will not be restarted."

After uninstalling Winfsp and all VC++and restarting VScode, everything worked properly.

[PulkitRustagi]

Search for autopep8 in the extension search bar in VS code and install it (or uninstall and install again if already installed), that should fix the formatter. Test it with ctrl+shift+I on your python scripts.

[kernelplv]

The problem is not solved for yapf… I am using ssh and python3.6.8.

[shaded-blue]

Hi,

If you search for autopep8 and install this formatter it will work.

I think this was solved in a unfortunate way, because people who just had the Python extension installed, suddenly didn't have a working formatting function anymore because it was removed from the Python extension. Furthermore, clicking "Install formatter" points you to the Python extension which is misleading.

This was the answer for me. You need Python + autopeop8/Black; the Python listing is very misleading.

[ThePrankMonkey]

Yeah, installing ms-python.black-formatter worked while searching for the extension in the gui lead me to install mikoz.black-py which kept causing save conflicts.

[bichuga]

Does flake8 work as a formatter? It's not listed in https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/formatting#_choose-a-formatter and even though I have flake8 extension installed it says

There is no formatter for 'python' files installed.

[DuaneNielsen]

This is the actual bug I think...

If python extension is no longer going to format code, it should not claim to format code!

[andelf]

Without googling "no formatter for 'python'" and finding this issue, I'd never know I needed to install a new extension.

[nrxM7]

still having this problem. Formatting doesnt work at all.

[karthiknadig]

@nrxM7 You need to install the formatter you want from the extension marketplace here are some common choices:

• Black: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.black-formatter
• Autopep8: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.autopep8
• Ruff (Implements black in rust): https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=charliermarsh.ruff
• Yapf: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=eeyore.yapf

There is no python formatter, you have to pick one.

An update on this issue. We are looking into what can be done about search in the marketplace for this. Python extension itself doesn't register as a formatter. Doing that would block integrations with external providers like Ruff, uFmt, etc. We are investigating if anything can be done to direct users to marketplace in this case. The changes however are outside of this extension, hence we are keeping this closed.

[nrxM7]

My problem is that no formatter helps, i've tried all of the listed ones but they dont do anything for some reason. Formatting in HTML with Prettier seems to work just fine, but nothing works in Python.

[karthiknadig]

@nrxM7 Let us debug this. Install the Black formatter Extension, after you install you should see this log:

That log will also tell you if something is not working. If you don't see any errors there then trigger Foramtting using "Format Document with..."

It should show you something like this:

Make sure you don't have ms-python.python set as default formatter somewhere. It should be ms-python.black-formatter if you are using black.

    "[python]": {
        "editor.formatOnSave": true,
        "editor.defaultFormatter": "ms-python.black-formatter"
    }

Other formatters have similar logs and similar settings.

[nrxM7]

@karthiknadig
Thank you, i don't really know what i did different this time but it worked. Appreciate your help :)

[JonathanDotCel]

TLDR: use autopep8 for formatting and save yourself the stress of wrestling with plugins

---

Original message:

Still getting this issue. The "Python extension for Visual Studio Code" extension is listed under formatters and claims support. Formatting has worked previously on the same install.

I was missing the "Format Document with..." option, it just would not show up in the context menu or palette.

After installing "Black Formatter", the message has changed to

"Extension 'Prettier - Code formatter' is configured as a formatter but it cannot format 'Python'-files.
Where was this message before?

Anyway, black formatter eventually started working after a restart, thanks.

TBH I've had nothing but issues with the last few releases of VSCode when it comes to formatters (often requiring deliberate version regressions). I suspect this is an issue with VSCode rather than all of the various failing formatters?
(New win10 install, new vscode install, fully patched, etc)

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Edit:

Black is far too aggressive, e.g. not breaking very long dictionary lines into smaller chunks.

I can't get ms-python.python to show up at all as a formatter unless I go back over 6 months of older versions.
At that point formatting doesn't work anyway.

Bit sick of doing this with every broken formatter at this point.

2023.12 doesn't show up
2023.10 doesn't format

Can we re-open this issue or at least put more pressure on the core VSCode team to actually fix this?

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Edit Edit:
autopep8 works well, and seems to value readability