Fix "Tailwind CSS IntelliSense Plugin Not Working in Tailwind v4"

If you're using Tailwind CSS v4 and have noticed that the IntelliSense plugin in VS Code isn't behaving as expected, you're definitely not the only one. Fortunately, the fix is incredibly simple—a quick adjustment in your VS Code settings can resolve the issue in no time.

The Simple Fix

In previous versions like Tailwind v3, the IntelliSense plugin would automatically detect your configuration without any extra effort. With v4, however, Tailwind no longer depends solely on a tailwind.config.js file. Instead, you need to tell the IntelliSense plugin exactly where to look—specifically, at your main CSS file where you import Tailwind using:

@import "tailwindcss";

Updating Your VS Code Settings

To get everything back in order, open your VS Code settings and add the path to your main CSS file. For instance, if your primary stylesheet is located at src/styles/main.css, update your .vscode/settings.json file to include:

{
  "tailwindCSS.experimental.configFile": "src/styles/main.css"
}

This small tweak ensures that the IntelliSense plugin knows where to find your Tailwind configuration, which in turn restores all the class suggestions you rely on.

A Look at the Project Structure

Here's a sample layout of a project using this setup:

my-tailwind-project/
├── .vscode/
│   └── settings.json         // Contains the Tailwind CSS config path for VS Code
├── node_modules/
├── public/
│   └── index.html            // Main HTML file linking to your generated CSS
├── src/
│   ├── styles/
│   │   ├── main.css          // Primary CSS file with Tailwind import
│   │   └── components.css    // Additional styles for individual components
│   ├── components/
│   │   └── Button.js         // Sample component file
│   └── pages/
│       └── index.js          // Application entry point
├── package.json              // Project dependencies and scripts
└── postcss.config.js         // PostCSS configuration file

Wrapping Up

By simply updating your VS Code settings to point directly to your main CSS file, you can eliminate those IntelliSense hiccups. This straightforward change keeps your development process running smoothly and ensures you always have the correct Tailwind class suggestions at your fingertips.

If you run into any further issues or have questions, please feel free to drop a comment below. Happy coding!

You can check out the official documentation regarding this matter at https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss-intellisense?tab=readme-ov-file#experimental-extension-settings.