VSCode IntelliSense Broken in Tailwind CSS v4? Here’s the Solution
Tailwind CSS v4 brings a bold new approach to styling—shifting from a JavaScript-based configuration to a CSS-first paradigm. However, this transition introduces a notable challenge: VSCode IntelliSense no longer auto-suggests custom classes as it did before. In this article, we’ll dive deep into what’s changed in Tailwind CSS v4, explain why IntelliSense issues arise, and provide comprehensive workarounds and best practices for a smooth upgrade. Whether you’re developing with React, Next.js, or another modern framework, this guide will help ensure your development workflow stays efficient and productive. What’s New in Tailwind CSS v4? CSS-First Configuration: The traditional tailwind.config.js file is replaced by a more integrated, CSS-first approach. Customizations are now defined directly in your CSS files using directives like @theme, @variant, and others. This change streamlines configuration and improves runtime performance. Performance Enhancements: With the integration of tools like Lightning CSS (a Rust-based CSS processor), Tailwind v4 offers faster build times and more efficient style processing. Modern Feature Support: Tailwind v4 supports native cascade layers, container queries, and other cutting-edge CSS features that keep your projects future-proof. While these innovations bring many benefits,
Tailwind CSS v4 brings a bold new approach to styling—shifting from a JavaScript-based configuration to a CSS-first paradigm.
However, this transition introduces a notable challenge: VSCode IntelliSense no longer auto-suggests custom classes as it did before.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into what’s changed in Tailwind CSS v4, explain why IntelliSense issues arise, and provide comprehensive workarounds and best practices for a smooth upgrade.
Whether you’re developing with React, Next.js, or another modern framework, this guide will help ensure your development workflow stays efficient and productive.
What’s New in Tailwind CSS v4?
CSS-First Configuration:
The traditional tailwind.config.js file is replaced by a more integrated, CSS-first approach. Customizations are now defined directly in your CSS files using directives like @theme, @variant, and others. This change streamlines configuration and improves runtime performance.Performance Enhancements:
With the integration of tools like Lightning CSS (a Rust-based CSS processor), Tailwind v4 offers faster build times and more efficient style processing.Modern Feature Support:
Tailwind v4 supports native cascade layers, container queries, and other cutting-edge CSS features that keep your projects future-proof.
While these innovations bring many benefits,
