Automatic code indentation does not work when creating a new line or pasting code in JetBrains Rider

Problem

When you press Enter to move to a new line, or when you paste a block of code, the code is not automatically indented to the correct level. For example, after typing a method signature and pressing Enter, the cursor appears at the beginning of the line instead of being indented.

public async Task<int> Foo()
{
// The cursor appears here, without an indent.
}

This behavior is common for users transitioning from Visual Studio who are accustomed to different default settings. While code formatting extensions can fix this upon saving, this behavior can be changed in Rider's editor settings.

Resolution

To fix this, you need to enable specific indentation settings within the Rider IDE. There are two related settings that can be changed in Rider: enabling smart indentation for new lines and configuring auto-formatting for pasted code.

Enable Smart Indent on New Lines

This setting ensures that when you press Enter, the new line is automatically indented according to the code's structure.

1. Navigate to Settings (or press Ctrl+Alt+S)
2. Go to Editor → General → Typing Assistance
3. In the Indentation section, check the box for Smart indent on Enter
4. Click Save to apply the changes

Configure Auto-Formatting on Paste

This setting controls how Rider formats code that you paste into the editor.

1. Navigate to Settings → Editor → General → Typing Assistance
2. Find the Auto-format on Paste dropdown menu
3. Select one of the following options based on your preference:
   • Indent: This is the recommended setting. It will adjust the indentation of the pasted block to fit the current context without changing its internal formatting
   • Reformat Block: This will completely reformat the pasted code according to your current code style settings
4. Click Save to apply the changes.