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Q&A Why is Helix auto-formatting my CSS files on save?

Hi everyone, I recently set up Helix and noticed that every time I save a CSS file, it gets automatically formatted. I didn’t enable any formatter for CSS in my configuration, only for Python. My ...

0 answers · posted 11mo ago by ShadowsRanger‭ · edited 11mo ago by ShadowsRanger‭

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#2: Post edited by

ShadowsRanger‭ · 2025-10-25T16:50:11Z (11 months ago)

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Hi everyone,
I recently set up Helix and noticed that every time I save a CSS file, it gets automatically formatted. I didn’t enable any formatter for CSS in my configuration, only for Python. My `languages.toml` looks like this:
```toml
[[language]]
name = "python"
language-servers = ["ruff"]
auto-format = true
scope = "source.python"
[language-server.ruff]
command = "ruff"
args = ["server"]
[language.formatter]
command = "ruff"
args = ["format", "-"]
[[language]]
name = "css"
auto-format = false
```
Even with `auto-format = false` for CSS, Helix still reformats the file on save.
Does anyone know why this happens and how I can stop Helix from formatting CSS automatically?
~~Thanks!~~

Hi everyone,
I recently set up Helix and noticed that every time I save a CSS file, it gets automatically formatted. I didn’t enable any formatter for CSS in my configuration, only for Python. My `languages.toml` looks like this:
```toml
[[language]]
name = "python"
language-servers = ["ruff"]
auto-format = true
scope = "source.python"
[language-server.ruff]
command = "ruff"
args = ["server"]
[language.formatter]
command = "ruff"
args = ["format", "-"]
[[language]]
name = "css"
auto-format = false
```
Even with `auto-format = false` for CSS, Helix still reformats the file on save.
Does anyone know why this happens and how I can stop Helix from formatting CSS automatically?
Thanks!
Edit:
I think what’s happening is that Helix’s auto-formatting is kicking in. According to the [Helix language support docs](https://docs.helix-editor.com/lang-support.html#language-support), CSS has "Auto Indent".
The reason it seems odd in my case is that I'm using **Jinja templates**, and Helix doesn’t fully recognize them.
I *can* toggle auto-formatting for the current buffer with:
```
:toggle-option auto-format
```
…but the choice is basically between:
1. **Never auto-format CSS**.
2. **Figure out a way for Helix to auto-format Jinja templates properly**.
So it’s less of a “bug” and more of an interaction between **auto-indent** and Helix’s limited template recognition.

#1: Initial revision by

ShadowsRanger‭ · 2025-10-25T16:36:44Z (11 months ago)

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Why is Helix auto-formatting my CSS files on save?

Hi everyone,

I recently set up Helix and noticed that every time I save a CSS file, it gets automatically formatted. I didn’t enable any formatter for CSS in my configuration, only for Python. My `languages.toml` looks like this:

```toml
[[language]]
name = "python"
language-servers = ["ruff"]
auto-format = true
scope = "source.python"

[language-server.ruff]
command = "ruff"
args = ["server"]

[language.formatter]
command = "ruff"
args = ["format", "-"]

[[language]]
name = "css"
auto-format = false
```

Even with `auto-format = false` for CSS, Helix still reformats the file on save.

Does anyone know why this happens and how I can stop Helix from formatting CSS automatically?

Thanks!

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