Instant Auto-Save Like JetBrains IDEs

If you’re coming from JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, WebStorm, PyCharm) and miss the instant auto-save behavior, you can configure Zed to save files immediately on every keystroke—no delays, no focus changes required.

The Difference

Default Zed behavior: Files auto-save after you stop typing for a moment or when you change focus.

JetBrains style: Files save instantly after every change, whether you change focus or not.

Configuration

Add this to your settings.json:

{
  "autosave": {
    "after_delay": {
      "milliseconds": 0
    }
  }
}

That’s it! Now every keystroke is instantly saved to disk.

When to Use This

This works great if you:

Trust your auto-formatters: Files are saved before formatting, so you see formatted code immediately
Use file watchers: Tools like webpack, vite, or nodemon pick up changes instantly
Never worry about unsaved changes: No more “Save changes?” dialogs
Work with external tools: Other tools always see the latest file version

Comparison with Other Auto-Save Options

Focus Change (Default)

{
  "autosave": "on_focus_change"
}

✅ Saves only when you switch files or apps ❌ Doesn’t save while you’re actively editing

After Delay (JetBrains Style)

{
  "autosave": {
    "after_delay": {
      "milliseconds": 0
    }
  }
}

✅ Saves immediately after every change ✅ Works even if you stay in the same file ⚠️ More disk writes (usually not a problem on modern SSDs)

Delayed Save (Balanced)

{
  "autosave": {
    "after_delay": {
      "milliseconds": 1000
    }
  }
}

✅ Saves after 1 second of inactivity ✅ Fewer disk writes than instant save ❌ Small delay before changes are saved

Benefits

No manual saves: Never press Cmd-S / Ctrl-S again

Immediate feedback: See formatter and linter results right away

Peace of mind: Your work is always saved

Familiar: Works like the IDEs you’re used to

Potential Downsides

More disk writes: Every keystroke triggers a save (modern SSDs handle this easily)
Formatter triggers: If you have format-on-save enabled, it runs on every change (you might want to disable this)

You might also want to adjust format-on-save behavior:

{
  "autosave": {
    "after_delay": {
      "milliseconds": 0
    }
  },
  "format_on_save": "off"  // Format manually instead
}

Or keep format-on-save but add a small delay:

{
  "autosave": {
    "after_delay": {
      "milliseconds": 500
    }
  },
  "format_on_save": "on"
}

This gives you a half-second buffer to type before the formatter runs, reducing unnecessary formatting operations while still providing quick saves.

Community Tip: Shared by k3rn31 in Hidden Gems: Community Edition